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Rohit Sharma Disappoints, Babar To Open And ICC Awards – January 23 Cricket Highlights

Aakash Saini

Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @_FaridKhan/x]Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @_FaridKhan/x]

Rohit Sharma failed on his Ranji Trophy return for Mumbai. Babar Azam will likely be opening the innings for Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, the ICC has unveiled the announcement dates of the ICC Awards 2024.

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 Thursday, January 23.

Rohit Sharma Disappoints On Ranji Trophy Return

Rohit Sharma continues to struggle with the bat as the Indian captain managed to score just three runs on his return to Ranji Trophy. Opening the innings for Mumbai alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sharma was bested by Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Umar Nazir Mir in just the sixth over of the morning session at the BKC Academy. His batting failure led to a sequence of wickets and the Mumbai cricket team eventually bundled out for just 120 in 33.2 overs.

It is worth noting that the legendary Indian opener also struggled to score runs in Australia, and during the preceding home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Babar Azam Likely To Open For Pakistan In CT 2025

Babar Azam, who usually bats at number three for Pakistan in ODIs, will likely open the innings for the ‘Men in Green’ in the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. As per Samaa TV correspondent, Qadir Khawaja, Babar is set to receive a promotion up the batting order alongside Fakhar Zaman.

Interestingly, the 30-year-old cricketer has previously opened the innings just twice in his ODI career. Averaging just 13 at the position, the modern-day batting behemoth averages a prolific 56.73 overall in the format for Pakistan. Under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, the Pakistan team will commence its 2025 Champions Trophy campaign with a match against New Zealand on February 19.

ICC Announce Awards Announcement Dates

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled all the announcement dates of the 2024 ICC Awards. The first batch of winners will be announced on Friday, January 24; and the winners of the prestigious Women’s Cricketer and Men’s Cricketer of the Year will be confirmed on January 28.

Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will be competing against Travis Head, Harry Brook and Joe Root for the men’s category, while players like Annabel Sutherland, Amelia Kerr, Chamari Athapaththu and Laura Wolvaardt are the four nominees from the women’s category.

Sourav Ganguly Record Broken By 15-Year-Old

Ankit Chatterjee, aged 15, made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bengal on January 23 against Haryana at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani. While young Chatterjee will be turning 16 next week, the prodigious batting talent broke Sourav Ganguly’s record of being the youngest cricketer to make his debut for Bengal in Ranji Trophy.

Ankit opened the innings and managed to survive the final five overs of the opening day before stumps, reaching 5* from 20 balls to take Bengal to 10-1. The hosts will resume their innings on Day 2, finding themselves another 147 runs away from Haryana.

Venkatesh Iyer Sustains Ankle Injury In Ranji Trophy 2025

Madhya Pradesh cricketer Venkatesh Iyer twisted his right ankle while batting against Kerala on Day 1 of their Elite Group C match at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The cricketer was spotted in visible pain as he limped off the field.

While Venkatesh might take even up to six weeks of recovery, he will be expected to regain full fitness by the time of the upcoming IPL 2025 season. The cricketer will be reprising his role for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to mark his fifth successive IPL year with the franchise.