December 20 Evening Brief: Today's Top news and headlines from cricket world

1. Sanju Samson finds ways to get out at times when he shouldn't: Simon Doull

Former New Zealand cricketer turned commentator, Simon Doull, scrutinized Sanju Samson’s performance in the second ODI against South Africa, highlighting a concerning trend in his dismissals. (READ MORE)

2. 'It was a confusing morning, I expected to be picked up' - Phil Salt opens up after going unsold in IPL 2024 Auction

England batter Phil Salt said that he was quite surprised after being ignored in the IPL auction 2024 as he felt he had done well in the cash-rich league last season. (READ MORE)

3. Twitter Reactions: Soumya Sarkar's ton goes in vain as New Zealand take unassailable 2-0 lead in ODI series

Despite a fine century from Soumya Sarkar, Bangladesh ended up on the losing side as New Zealand won the second ODI by seven wickets with 22 balls to spare. (READ MORE)

4. 'Chinta mat karo woh batting karega' - Mumbai Indians owner Akash Ambani responds to fan's question on Rohit Sharma

The buzz around the Mumbai Indians' camp intensified during the auction when a fervent fan voiced concerns about Rohit Sharma's role in the team. In a video shared on social media by the franchise, MI owner Akash Ambani responded to the fan, stating "Chinta mat karo woh batting karega (Do not worry, he will bat)." (READ MORE)

5. 'He needs to use that money on the team' - Tony de Zorzi reacts after Nandre Burger sold to Rajasthan Royals in IPL auction

South Africa batter Tony de Zorzi made a humorous statement towards his fellow teammate Nandre Burger, who got a deal with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. (READ MORE)

6. 'Never thought I'd get crores' - Shubham Dubey recalls 'really bad times' after INR 5.8 crore IPL deal

Shubham Dubey was one of the many uncapped Indian players who had a big payday in store for them on IPL auction day as he was acquired by the Rajasthan Royals for a sum of INR 5.8 crore. He said that he was hopeful of getting a team at the auction after his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023 performances, but never expected to bag such a lucrative contract. (READ MORE)

7. 'It is emotional and tough, to be honest' - Mahela Jayawardene breaks silence on captaincy change in Mumbai Indians' set-up

In a surprising turn of events, the Mumbai Indians have made a bold move ahead of the IPL 2024 season, replacing the seasoned captain, Rohit Sharma, with the explosive all-rounder, Hardik Pandya. This decision, as described by the Head of Cricket and former coach, Mahela Jayawardene, was both "tough" and "emotional." (READ MORE)

8. AUS vs PAK 2023: Pakistan pacer Khurram Shahzad suffers injury scare ahead of 2nd Test

Pakistan suffered an injury scare ahead of the second Test against Australia as pacer Khurram Shahzad, who made his international debut in the first Test, was taken for an MRI scan after he complained of pain in his left side during the match. (READ MORE)

9. Babar Azam regains top spot in ICC ODI Batters Rankings, replacing Shubman Gill

In a recent development, Star Pakistani batter, Babar Azam, has once again ascended to the pinnacle of the ICC ODI batters rankings, displacing Shubman Gill, who now occupies the second position. (READ MORE)

10. Chennai Super Kings respond to reports of approaching Mumbai Indians for high-profile Rohit Sharma trade

There were speculations that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had approached Mumbai to trade Rohit. However, the latest reports suggested that Kasi Viswanathan, the CEO of CSK, has denied such discussions with the five-time IPL champions. (READ MORE)