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Babar Azam flops again, Shubman out and Steve Smith misses – December 17 Cricket highlights

Aakash Saini

Babar Azam and Shubman Gill [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/x, AFP]Babar Azam and Shubman Gill [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/x, AFP]

Babar Azam registered yet another failure for the Sydney Sixers in the ongoing BBL 2025-26 season. Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the remainder of India’s home T20I series against South Africa. In other news, Steve Smith walked off the field just ahead of the third Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series in Adelaide.

Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Wednesday, December 17.

Steve Smith misses Adelaide Ashes Test due to inner ear issue

In a surprising move, legendary Australian batter Steve Smith was ruled out of the playing XI against England in the third Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series at the Adelaide Oval. Smith, who led the Australian team in the first two Tests as stand-in captain in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, was ruled out as he was suffering with an inner ear issue that resulted in dizziness and nausea.

He left the field mere 20 minutes prior to the toss, prompting the Australian team management to recall Usman Khawaja in the playing XI. Khawaja responded with an 82-run knock as Australia reached 326-8 on Day 1 by stumps.

Varun Chakravarthy achieves career-best T20I ratings

Ace Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy has achieved his career-best T20I ratings, pushing himself up to 818 rating points. The cricketer also retained himself as the number one ranked T20I bowler in the latest ICC men’s rankings. Varun Chakravarthy has picked two wickets in each of the first three matches of the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa at home. With six wickets in just three innings, the 34-year-old is also leading the wicket-taking race in the series, doing so at an exceptional bowling average of just 9.83.

Shubman Gill out of remainder of South Africa T20Is

Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill has been reportedly ruled out of the remainder of India’s T20I series against South Africa. As per reports, the cricketer suffered a foot injury before the fourth T20I of the series in Lucknow. So far in the series, Shubman Gill has managed to aggregate just 32 runs in three innings at an abysmal average of 10.67, which included a run-a-ball 28 in the third T20I in Dharamsala a couple of days ago.

BCCI official speaks on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma 2027 World Cup future

IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has cleared the air regarding the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup futures of legendary Indian batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While speaking exclusively for CREX on the Vimalwa YouTube channel, the ex-treasurer of the BCCI said that no one should be asking any questions to Rohit and Kohli regarding their presence in the Indian ODI team until they are performing well with the bat.

Fortunately for Indian fans, the two cricketers are in prolific touch with the bat off late, making their presence felt in the last two ODI series against South Africa and Australia, and also winning the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE earlier this year.

Babar Azam fails again as Pakistan’s flop show continues in BBL 2025-26

Pakistan legend Babar Azam was dismissed for a sluggish nine from 10 balls for Sydney Sixers against Adelaide Strikers in match number four of the 2025-26 BBL season. The outcome marked his second successive failure this tournament, after he was dismissed for just two against Perth Scorchers on December 14 earlier this week.