Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams, each comprising eleven players. The game is played on a large oval-shaped field, with a rectangular pitch at the center. One team bats, aiming to score runs, while the other bowls and fields in an effort to dismiss the batsmen and limit the runs scored. The objective is to score more runs than the opposing team.
A cricket match is divided into innings, where one team bats and the other bowls and fields. The batting team tries to accumulate runs by hitting the ball bowled by the opposing team’s bowler and running between two sets of wickets, or by hitting the ball to the boundary for four or six runs. The fielding team aims to get the batsmen out by various means, including catching the ball after a hit, hitting the wickets with the ball, or forcing a batsman to make an error.
Cricket has various formats, including Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 (T20) matches, each differing in duration and rules. It is governed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and has a rich history, with origins tracing back to 16th-century England. The sport is particularly popular in countries like India, Australia, England, Pakistan, and South Africa.
India begins its Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai. Rohit Sharma leads India, confident after a 3-0 series win against England. India's first match kicks off under the…