KL Rahul, acquired by Delhi Capitals (DC) for ₹14 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, has declined the team's captaincy offer. Expressing a desire to focus solely on his batting, Rahul conveyed his wish for "love and respect" from the franchise. This decision paves the way for all-rounder Axar Patel to potentially lead DC in the upcoming season. Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik hinted at this development, stating, "Heard he's going to be the Delhi Capitals captain as well." Axar, associated with DC since 2019 and retained for ₹16.5 crore ahead of the mega auction, has shown leadership potential, recently serving as India's vice-captain in the T20I series against England.

India's triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy was significantly bolstered by the strategic inclusion of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy. Initially sidelined, Chakravarthy's entry into the squad compensated for the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. He made an immediate impact, notably securing a five-wicket haul against New Zealand in the group stages. His unique bowling style and mental resilience transformed him into captain Rohit Sharma's reliable weapon during critical junctures. Chakravarthy concluded the tournament as India's joint-highest wicket-taker, amassing nine wickets in just three matches. This performance underscored his evolution into India's X-factor, validating the team management's calculated decision to introduce him at a pivotal moment.

Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram expressed astonishment over the absence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final presentation ceremony. Despite Pakistan being the official host, no PCB representatives appeared on stage as ICC chairman Jay Shah awarded the trophy to India's captain, Rohit Sharma. Akram, speaking on the 'Dressing Room' show, noted that while PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was unwell, other officials like COO Sumair Ahmad Syed were present at the venue but not on stage. He emphasized the importance of Pakistani representation, stating, "It definitely looked odd... somebody should've been there." Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also voiced his disappointment over the lack of PCB presence during the ceremony.

Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya has promptly joined his team's camp following India's victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy against New Zealand on March 9. The MI official X account shared his arrival on March 11, captioning a photo: "The Gun has arrived." Pandya, who took over MI's captaincy from Rohit Sharma after moving from Gujarat Titans, faced a challenging 2024 season, with MI finishing last, securing only four wins in 14 matches. Determined to reverse the team's fortunes, Pandya aims to lead MI to their sixth title in the upcoming IPL season, which begins on March 22. MI's first match is scheduled against Chennai Super Kings on March 23 in Chennai.

KL Rahul has emerged as a pivotal figure in India's cricketing success, particularly during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Transitioning into the wicket-keeper role after Rishabh Pant's accident, Rahul has excelled, securing 16 dismissals, 15 catches and one stumping second only to South Africa's Quinton de Kock. His astute judgment in utilizing the Decision Review System (DRS) has further solidified his importance, earning the trust of captain Rohit Sharma. With the bat, Rahul has amassed 386 runs in nine innings, averaging 77.20 and striking at 98.72. Notably, his unbeaten 97 against Australia rescued India from a precarious 2 for 3, showcasing his resilience and skill under pressure.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has revealed that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi admitted to lacking cricket knowledge during a recent conversation. Afridi criticized the PCB's current administration, highlighting that many officials are bureaucrats without a cricketing background, leading to questionable decisions affecting the national team's performance. He emphasized the importance of involving technically sound individuals in cricket operations to strengthen Pakistan's domestic structure and, consequently, the national team's success. These remarks follow Pakistan's disappointing performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where they faced early elimination despite being the host nation.

Ravichandran Ashwin believes Varun Chakravarthy should have been named ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 instead of New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra. Ashwin praised Chakravarthy’s impact, calling him India’s “X-factor” in their title-winning campaign. “If Varun wasn’t there, this game would’ve been different,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. Chakravarthy, a late addition to the squad, emerged as the second-highest wicket-taker. Ashwin also lauded India’s bowlers for restricting New Zealand to 251/7 in the final, highlighting India’s victory despite Jasprit Bumrah’s absence.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, originally on a 10-day ISS mission, are set to return on March 16 after being stranded for 10 months. Their Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned, forcing NASA to declare it unsafe for reentry. They will return aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which was extended to accommodate them. Crew-9 will undock after Crew-10 launches on March 12. Delays could push their return to March 17 or 18. Williams and Wilmore have been on ISS since June 2024, making their stay one of the longest unintended space missions.

The ICC confirmed no Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) representatives attended the Champions Trophy closing ceremony in Dubai, despite Pakistan being the host nation. Fans noticed only Indian officials—Jay Shah, Roger Binny, and Devajit Saikia—were present. An ICC spokesperson stated PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was unavailable, and no office bearer was present to represent Pakistan. Reports suggest PCB CEO Faisal Hasnain was in Dubai but wasn’t invited. The PCB is set to contact the ICC over the miscommunication. India clinched the trophy after defeating New Zealand, with Rohit Sharma named Player of the Match.

India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defeating New Zealand by four wickets. After the win, head coach Gautam Gambhir shared a fun moment with Navjot Sidhu. Gambhir, usually serious, recited a ‘sher’ in Sidhu’s style. Sidhu then asked him to dance, but Gambhir refused, joking, “Main chala jaunga.” However, he later raised a finger in the air as Sidhu danced. This victory is special for Gambhir, who faced criticism after India’s Test losses. Winning this trophy silenced doubts about his coaching. India now prepares for a tough England tour and the T20 World Cup next year.