DRS Feb 3: Superb news for CSK & PBKS, Sanju Samson to be dropped & Abhishek Sharma with greatest performance

by · Inside Sport India

Welcome to our special segment, DRS or the Daily Review System. In this, InsideSport will provide you with the top cricket stories from a day before that you might have missed in the hustle and bustle of your busy life.

What a day to be an Indian cricket fan! First, it was the young girls, led by Niki Prasad, who took India to the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup championship, beating South Africa in Malaysia. Then came the fifth T20I between India and England at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, where Abhishek Sharma came up with the performance for the ages. He not only hit blitzkrieg 135 but outscored England by some margin. Unfortunately for them, Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav failed to score with the bat. Meanwhile, we also had the culmination of the Ranji Trophy league stage, where the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had some good news because of a player’s performance. On that note, let us look at the top cricketing stories from February 2, Sunday.

Abhishek Sharma, take a bow

It was something special by Abhishek Sharma. He single-handedly tormented England with one of the greatest T20I performances. Later, he even chipped in with a couple of wickets as well, putting ‘salt’ to England’s wounds. Abhishek broke numerous records en route to his 54-ball 137 in Mumbai. He got his hundred in just 37 balls, making himself the second-fastest Indian to hammer a T20I ton. Read more here: Abhishek Sharma outscores England, Shami starts ICC Champions Trophy prep with 3-fer

Great news for CSK!

Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) new signing Anshul Kamboj is having a phenomenal domestic season. The right-arm pacer took 7 wickets against Karnataka, including 4 in the first innings, to help Haryana top Ranji Trophy Elite Group C. Kamboj has claimed 29 wickets at a strike rate of 27.00 this season. CSK acquired him from Mumbai Indians for 3.40 crore, and his performances suggest he’s a valuable addition to the team. Read more here: Ranji Trophy Round-up: All-time record broken, CSK pacer stars again & 22-year-old beats Siraj

Game over for Sanju Samson?

Sanju Samson’s T20I career may be nearing its end after he was dismissed by short-pitched deliveries in all five innings against England. Despite a promising start in the 5th T20I, Samson fell to another bouncer, which reiterated his ongoing struggle. With age not on his side (30), Samson may be dropped for India’s next T20I series, especially if Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal become available. Now, Abhishek Sharma has put himself to notice as well. Read more here: Sanju Samson ‘bouncer’ weakness to make his T20I career ‘short’?

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Cheer for PBKS

Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) new recruit Marco Jansen is leading the SA20 wicket charts with 15 wickets in 10 matches, boasting an impressive economy rate of 6.40. Jansen’s performance is a promising sign for Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2025. Meanwhile, Afghan player Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who went unsold in the IPL auction, is close behind with 14 wickets in 10 matches, highlighting his skills despite being overlooked by IPL teams. Read more here: Punjab Kings’ new recruit tops wicket-taker charts in SA20

Heartwarming from Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has proven once again why he’s considered a true legend of the game. Despite a disappointing performance on the field, Kohli showed incredible humility and kindness off it. He took the time to sign the ball that got him out for the bowler, Himanshu Sangwan, and even refused help from his teammates to carry his own kit bag earlier. It’s clear that Kohli is a true team player who values humility and sportsmanship above all else. Kohli coming back to play Ranji Trophy match was indeed a festival in Delhi. Read more here: Virat Kohli ‘signs the ball that got him out’ on Ranji Trophy return as a memento for Himanshu Sangwan

BCCI has Siraj’s backing

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has backed the BCCI’s push for top players to participate in domestic cricket. Despite being one of the most overworked bowlers, Siraj believes playing in the Ranji Trophy is crucial for senior players and youngsters. He welcomed the BCCI’s mandate, saying it motivates youngsters to share the dressing room with seniors like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Siraj also dismissed concerns about his heavy workload, saying representing India is his dream. Read more here: Despite being most overworked pacer, Mohammed Siraj advocates BCCI’s mandate to play domestic cricket