![Shubman Gill and Gujarat Giants players [Source: @ICC, @Giant_Cricket/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1741370809929_shubman_gill.jpg?type=tq)
Shubman Gill and Gujarat Giants players [Source: @ICC, @Giant_Cricket/x]
Gujarat Giants flayed table-toppers Delhi Capitals in the penultimate match of the Lucknow leg of the WPL 2025 season. The ICC unveiled nominees for the ‘Player of the Month’ award for the month of February 2025. Moreover, Matt Henry is clouded by an injury concern that might rule him out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final.
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 Friday, March 7.
IND vs PAK Pitch Likely To Be Used For CT Final
India’s high-octane 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final match against New Zealand will likely be played on the same surface as India’s earlier Group A match of the tournament against Pakistan. Set to be hosted by the Dubai International Stadium, the match will be played on Sunday, March 9. According to a Times of India report, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has ensured a two-week break for the surface, considering the Group A game between India and Pakistan was staged in Dubai back on February 23.
Matt Henry To Be Ruled Out Of Champions Trophy Final: Report
New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry will likely be ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final against India owing to a shoulder injury he sustained during the semifinal match against South Africa. While there is no clarity over Henry’s availability for the title clash, an ESPNCricinfo report confirmed that the 33-year-old might well be ruled out of the match.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead also stated that the team management is still unaware over the prospects of Henry’s recovery. The lanky paceman has emerged as New Zealand’s most successful bowler of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy so far with 10 wickets from just four matches.
Rajeev Shukla, Ashish Shelar Join ACC
Cricket administrators Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar joined the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) as India’s representatives, as confirmed by the BCCI on March 7. While Shukla was appointed as an Executive Board Member, Shelar joined the ACC as an Ex-Officio Board Member.
The BCCI extended its best wishes to the two cricket administrators through a social media post. Notably, the two joined the ACC amidst a scheduling tussle between India and Pakistan for the 2025 T20 Asia Cup later this year.
Gill, Phillips, Steve Smith Among ICC Player of the Month Nominees
The ICC announced all nominees for the Player of the Month award for the month of February 2025. In the men’s category, the ICC named Indian opening batter Shubman Gill and New Zealand star Glenn Phillips for their stellar show at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, as well as included Australian stand-in skipper Steve Smith for his excellence in Test cricket.
Shubman recently unfurled match-winning knocks for India in Group A matches of the tournament against Bangladesh and Pakistan. Phillips played a key role in New Zealand’s Champions Trophy as well as ODI tri-series success in Pakistan, while Smith bludgeoned two huge Test hundreds against Sri Lanka away from home.
Harleen Deol, Dottin Flay Capitals As Gujarat Giants Claim Big Win
Gujarat Giants consigned table-toppers Delhi Capitals to a five-wicket defeat with three balls to spare in match 17 of the WPL 2025 season. Batting first, the Capitals accrued 177-5 courtesy of Meg Lanning’s fiery 57-ball 92. For the Giants, Meghna Singh picked up three key wickets to claim figures of 3-35.
Chasing 178, Harleen Deol at number three composed 70 unbeaten runs from 49 balls, and she received much assistance from captain Ashleigh Gardner (22 off 13) and Deandra Dottin (24 off 10) while sealing off the deal as the Gujarat Giants jumped to the second spot on the WPL 2025 points table.
.jpg?type=tq "Smriti Mandhana Banter With Shreyanka!")
.jpg?type=tq "PAK gets back to practice")
 "Aakash Saini")
