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Bumrah Ruled Out, NZ Claim Series And Guptill Retirement – January 8 Cricket Highlights

Aakash Saini∙ Updated: Jan 9 2025, 6:00 AM

Jasprit Bumrah and Mark Chapman [Source: AP Photos, @jnking282/x]Jasprit Bumrah and Mark Chapman [Source: AP Photos, @jnking282/x]

Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will likely be ruled out of the national squad for the impending 2025 Champions Trophy. In New Zealand, the hosts secured a huge win over the visiting Sri Lankan team to go 2-0 up in the three-match series. Additionally, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) roped in legendary Pakistan cricketer as mentor for the upcoming tournament.

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, January 8.

Jasprit Bumrah Likely To Be Ruled Out Of CT 2025

Injured fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will likely be ruled out of the Indian squad for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The ace Indian speedster recently finished the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series in Australia as its highest wicket-taker, but was forced to walk off the field midway into the series-deciding SCG Test.

As per reports, Jasprit Bumrah can attain full recovery in time for the tournament if he is suffering from a back spasm. However, in case of a bone injury, his rehab process may take much longer and force him out of the eight-team event.

New Zealand Claim Huge Win To Go 2-0 Up Over Sri Lanka

In a rain-curtailed 37-over game at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, the New Zealand cricket team crushed the visiting Sri Lankan troops by 113 runs to go 2-0 up in their three-match ODI series. Batting first, New Zealand hauled 255-9 courtesy of splendid half-centuries from ‘Player of the Match’ Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman. For Sri Lanka, off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana picked up a hat-trick in the slog overs to claim figures of 4-44.

In response, the visitors were bowled out for just 142 in 30.2 overs to succumb to their second successive ODI defeat of the tour. Lanky paceman Will O’Rourke unfurled the spell of the run-chase by picking up the key wickets of half-centurion Kamindu Mendis, Eshan Malinga and Maheesh Theekshana.

Martin Guptill Announces New Zealand Retirement

Blistering New Zealand opener Martin Guptill has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 38-year-old was part of the New Zealand cricket team that reached the finals of the 2015 and 2019 ODI Cricket World Cups. Moreover, the legendary opening batter holds the world record of listing the highest individual score in World Cup history, doing so through his 237-run hurricane against West Indies in the 2015 quarterfinals.

Guptill played 47 Tests, 198 ODIs and 122 T20I matches during his heydays, but has not been considered for national selection since late 2022.

Younis Khan To Mentor Afghanistan In 2025 CT

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan is set to mentor the Afghanistan cricket team in the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy in the Pakistan and in the UAE. Khan, who plundered nearly 18,000 international runs for Pakistan during his playing days, was appointed as Afghanistan mentor by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on January 8.

As per the official statement, Pakistan’s 2009 T20 World Cup winning skipper will be accompanying the Afghanistan team during their conditioning and preparation camp and will offer his mentorship until the conclusion of the eight-team tournament.

ICC Unhappy Over Champions Trophy Preparations?

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to launch on February 19 with a match between New Zealand and tournament co-hosts Pakistan. However, recent reports indicate that the three Pakistan-based venues of the competition are still undergoing construction and are nowhere near completion.

On January 8, the ICC sent its delegation to Pakistan to asses the progress of their preparations. The delegation team arrived in Karachi to monitor PCB’s efforts, and they are slated to conduct a detailed inspection of the construction work at various sections of the National Stadium in Karachi.