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Rohit Sharma Backs Gill, Fakhar Zaman Injury And NZ Win – February 19 Cricket Highlights

Aakash Saini

Shubman Gill with Rohit Sharma, Tom Latham [Source: @BCCI, @BLACKCAPS/x]Shubman Gill with Rohit Sharma, Tom Latham [Source: @BCCI, @BLACKCAPS/x]

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New Zealand started off 2025 ICC Champions Trophy with a huge win over tournament co-hosts Pakistan. In Vadodara, Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz battled it out in a last-over WPL 2025 thriller. In other news, Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill received the backing of his skipper and senior opening partner Rohit Sharma. 

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, February 19.

Will Young, Latham Tons And Santner’s Three-Fer Gives NZ Opening Win

New Zealand crashed Pakistan by 60 runs at the National Stadium in Karachi in the opening match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Opening batter Will Young and unbeaten number five Tom Latham punched out majestic centuries, before a sizzling 39-ball 61 from Glenn Phillips boosted New Zealand up to 320-5 from 50 overs.

In response, Pakistan folded up for just 260 in 47.2 overs, with Khushdil Shah top-scoring in the innings through his swift 69. Babar Azam also minted 64 runs, but took 90 balls to do so. For New Zealand, fast bowler Will O’Rourke and captain Mitchell Santner picked up three wickets each to headline Pakistan’s collapse.

Fakhar Zaman Suffers Knee Injury During CT 2025 Opener

Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman sustained an injury on his right knee in the very first over of the match against New Zealand. While the cricketer was initially reported to be ruled out of the game, he later returned to bat during the Pakistan run-chase, albeit at number four. Fakhar looked in slight discomfort and he managed to score just 24 runs from 41 balls before getting cleaned up by Michael Bracewell.

At the moment, it remains to be seen if Fakhar Zaman will return for Pakistan’s next match of the tournament in three days’ time against India.

Rohit Sharma Backs Shubman Gill Before Champions Trophy 2025

Indian captain Rohit Sharma has backed the appointment of Shubman Gill as team’s vice-captain ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. While speaking at a press conference a day before India’s tournament opener against Bangladesh in Dubai, Sharma hailed Gill’s formidable track record in ODIs.

Both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are slated to open the innings for Team India in the tournament.

Matthew Kuhnemann Bowling Action Verdict To Be Announced

The verdict for the bowling action of Australian spinner Matthew Kuhnemann is expected to be announced within a week. The verdict will determine if Kuhnemann will be eligible to travel to the West Indies or not later this year for Australia’s three-match Test trip.

The 28-year-old recently underwent intense and technology-driven bowling tests at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane. Earlier this month, the cricketer was reported for having a suspect bowling action after starring in Australia’s emphatic 2-0 series victory in Sri Lanka.

Meg Lanning’s 69 Edge Out Warriorz Despite Navgire’s 27-Ball 51

Delhi Capitals defeated UP Warriorz with a ball to spare at the Kotambi Stadium in match six of the WPL 2025 season. Batting first, Warriorz listed 166-7 from 20 overs, courtesy of Kiran Navgire’s explosive 27-ball 51 at the top of the order, and a sizzling 15-ball 33* from Chinelle Henry.

In response, captain Meg Lanning top-scored for the Delhi Capitals with 69 runs from just 49 balls. Overseas stars Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp also made valiant runs during their unbeaten partnership as the Capitals won the match by seven wickets.