![MS Dhoni with Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @riseup_pant17/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1739725059548_ipl_rishabh_pant.jpg?type=tq)
MS Dhoni with Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @riseup_pant17/x]
Rishabh Pant suffered a nasty injury on his knee during a training session before the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. His national teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal, meanwhile, has been ruled out of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy semifinal match against Vidarbha. In other news, the BCCI announced the entire schedule of the upcoming IPL 2025 season.
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 Sunday, February 16.
BCCI Unveils IPL 2025 Schedule
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the entire schedule of the upcoming IPL 2025 season. The tournament will launch with a match between KKR and RCB at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 22. In the first double-header of the season the following day, five-time winners Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians will be crossing paths in Chennai to cap an exhilarating opening weekend.
The league stage will come to a conclusion on May 18, and the playoffs will be held between May 20 and May 25. Notably, the second qualifier and the final match will also be hosted by Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
Rishabh Pant Suffers Injury Scare Before CT 2025
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant suffered a knee injury during a training session in Dubai mere days prior to the launch of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. On February 16, Pant got hit by a ball on his left knee, prompting support staff and physio to charge towards him on the field.
The Indian stumper was selected in the ‘Men in Blue’ squad for the tournament, despite featuring in just one ODI match since his return to the national team after his near-fatal car accident from December 2022. As of now, the extent of Rishabh Pant’s knee injury is yet to be determined. India’s opening match of the 2025 Champions Trophy will be played against Bangladesh on February 20, i.e., just four days after the cricketer’s injury setback.
Champions Trophy 2025 Opening Ceremony In Lahore
The opening ceremony of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy took place at the historic Diwan-e-Aam, Lahore Fort on February 16, i.e., three days prior to the launch of the tournament. Pakistan’s music icon Atif Aslam attended the ceremony and even performed the tournament’s official anthem, as per reports.
Top officials from the PCB as well as several Pakistani cricketing legends also attended the glitzy event to celebrate the return of an ICC event to the country after a gap of nearly 28 years.
Yashasvi Jaiswal Ruled Out Of Mumbai’s Ranji Semis
Indian opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal has been ruled out of Mumbai squad for their upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024-25 semifinal match against Vidarbha. Jaiswal suffered pain in his ankle, prompting the Mumbai team management to halt his return to domestic cricket.
The 23-year-old earlier played Mumbai’s Elite Group A match against Jammu and Kashmir last month, before joining the Indian cricket team for their home ODI series against England.
Ashleigh Gardner Steers Gujarat Giants To Big Win Over Warriorz
The Gujarat Giants pipped UP Warriorz by six wickets in 18 overs in the third match of the WPL 2025 season at the Kotambi Stadium. Winning the toss and electing to field first, the Giants restricted the Warriorz to just 143-9 from 20 overs, with captain Ashleigh Gardner and seasoned all-rounder Deandra Dottin picking up two wickets each in the innings. Young spinner Priya Mishra unfurled the spell of the match by claiming three huge wickets to bag figures of 3-25.
Later in the run-chase, captain Gardner punched out an electric 32-ball 52 to lay out foundation of a big win for her side. Swift 30s from middle-order batters Harleen Deol and Dottin ensured the Giants shrugged off its remaining runs with relative ease to record their first win of the season.
 "Aakash Saini")
