New Zealand have announced a revised 14-member squad for the third and final Test against the West Indies, scheduled to be played at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. The Black Caps, who currently lead the three-match series 1-0 after a dominant nine-wicket win in the second Test, will be aiming to seal the series with a victory on home soil.

Blundell returns after injury layoff

Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell has been recalled after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the opening Test in Christchurch. The injury forced Blundell to miss the remainder of the first match as well as the second Test, where debutant Mitch Hay stepped in admirably, scoring a fluent 61 in Wellington.

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter welcomed Blundell’s return, highlighting his importance to the squad.
“Tom has recovered very well from his hamstring tear, and we’re grateful to have someone of his calibre back in the side. His experience is invaluable, especially with several players relatively new to Test cricket,” Walter said.

Hay has been released from the squad and will return to domestic duties with Canterbury, though Walter acknowledged his positive impact.
“Mitch did a great job for us on debut, and it’s pleasing to have that depth in our wicketkeeping stocks,” he added.

Ajaz Patel back to bolster spin attack

Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel also returns to the Test squad, marking his first inclusion since New Zealand’s home series against India last year. The Bay Oval surface, known for offering more assistance to spinners than most New Zealand venues, played a key role in Patel’s recall.
“Ajaz is someone we can trust to come in and do a job if required. Bay Oval has typically offered more turn, and his ability to turn the ball away from right-handers adds a valuable dimension to our attack,” Walter explained.

Patel is in line to make his first home Test appearance since 2020, adding experience and variation alongside New Zealand’s seam-heavy bowling unit.

Pace attack largely unchanged

New Zealand have largely retained the pace group that impressed in the second Test. Blair Tickner has been ruled out due to a shoulder injury, while Michael Rae, Jacob Duffy, and Zak Foulkes are expected to continue. Patel provides an additional spin option should conditions warrant a two-spinner strategy.

Series context

After a rain-affected draw in the opening Test, New Zealand seized control of the series with a commanding performance in the second match. With key players returning and momentum on their side, the hosts will look to wrap up the series, while the West Indies will be hoping to level it and take confidence into future tours.

New Zealand squad for third Test

Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Kristian Clarke, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Punjab Kings (PBKS) will enter the IPL 2026 mini-auction without their head coach Ricky Ponting, who will be unavailable due to commentary commitments for the Ashes series with Australia’s Channel Seven Network. According to a Cricbuzz report, team captain Shreyas Iyer is expected to lead the franchise’s auction table at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on December 16.

Despite Ponting’s absence, the Punjab Kings management is reportedly confident, mainly because the team has minimal activity planned for the auction. PBKS has only four slots left, including two overseas positions, and a remaining purse of ₹11.50 crore.

Shreyas Iyer’s Leadership Turned Punjab Kings’ Fortunes

Shreyas Iyer’s leadership proved transformative for Punjab Kings during IPL 2025. In his reunion with Ricky Ponting—whom he previously worked with at Delhi Capitals—Iyer guided the team to:

• Their first playoffs appearance in 11 years
• Their first final since the 2014 season

Iyer also led from the front with a phenomenal batting season, finishing as PBKS’ leading run-scorer with:

• 604 runs
• An average of 50
• A strike rate of 175

His performance made him the backbone of the franchise and a natural choice to represent PBKS at the auction.

Iyer will be joined at the auction table by:

• Sairaj Bahutule – Spin Bowling Coach
• Trevor Gonsalves – Assistant Bowling Coach
• Ashish Tuli – General Manager

Punjab Kings’ Likely Auction Strategy

PBKS released three overseas players — Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, and Kyle Jamieson — suggesting the franchise may prioritize overseas reinforcements.

Likely targets include:

1. Indian Backup Spinner

A domestic spinner who can support Rahul Chahar or serve as bench strength.

2. Overseas Top-Order Batter / Batting All-Rounder

A flexible player who can anchor or accelerate, especially in case of injuries or form issues.

3. Overseas Fast Bowling Backup

With Jamieson released, PBKS is expected to look for a reliable pace option to balance their squad.

The team aims to complete its 25-member squad while making impactful yet value-driven buys.

Other Franchise Updates

Vettori to Attend SRH Auction Table

Daniel Vettori, Australia’s assistant coach, will be present for Sunrisers Hyderabad despite the third Ashes Test starting the next day. SRH has:

• 10 slots to fill
• A substantial purse of ₹25.50 crore

Vettori made a similar arrangement with Cricket Australia during last year’s auction, leaving in between the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Lucknow Super Giants’ Representation

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will have full management representation, including:

• Justin Langer – Head Coach
• Tom Moody – Global Director of Cricket
• Bharat Arun – Bowling Coach
• Members of the ownership group

Google has released its annual Year in Search 2025, revealing the most searched topics across various categories globally and country-wise. In cricket-loving Pakistan—where stars like Babar Azam and Virat Kohli usually dominate online trends—the list surprisingly crowned a different name as the most searched athlete of 2025. And it wasn’t a Pakistani superstar or one of India’s veteran icons.

The top spot in Pakistan was claimed by young Indian opener Abhishek Sharma, surpassing household names like Kohli, Babar, and Shaheen Afridi.

Why Abhishek Sharma Dominated Pakistan’s Search Trends

Abhishek Sharma’s sudden rise to fame in Pakistan can be attributed to his explosive performances during the Asia Cup 2025, where India and Pakistan met three times in just 15 days. His fearless batting style and aggressive strokeplay particularly grabbed attention.

His standout knocks against Pakistan:

• 31 off 13 balls (League stage)
• 74 off 39 balls (Super Four)
• Final: 5 runs, but India won thanks to Tilak Varma’s heroics

The biggest talking point was his ruthless attack on Pakistan’s premier pacer Shaheen Afridi, scoring heavily off him in the powerplay overs in both major matches. Pakistani fans and analysts were left stunned as Abhishek dismantled their bowling attack with ease.

This high-voltage rivalry ensured Abhishek’s name remained at the top of Pakistan’s Google searches throughout the year.

Most Searched Athletes in Pakistan (2025)

According to Google’s official list:

1. Abhishek Sharma
2. Hassan Nawaz
3. Irfan Khan Niazi
4. Sahibzada Farhan
5. Muhammad Abbas

Surprisingly, neither Babar Azam nor Shaheen Afridi, nor even global star Virat Kohli, made it to the list.

Abhishek Sharma Among Top Google Searches in India Too

Abhishek’s popularity wasn’t limited to Pakistan. In India, he ranked third among the most searched personalities in 2025, behind:

1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi
2. Priyansh Arya

Both Suryavanshi and Arya enjoyed breakout seasons during the IPL 2025, which propelled their online popularity skyrocketing.

India–Pakistan Matches Not the Top Trend

Despite the usual hype around India vs. Pakistan matches, neither country listed those matches in their top trending searches. Instead:

• India’s most searched match: India vs England
• Pakistan’s most searched match: Pakistan vs South Africa

This shift highlights the increasing global interest in more competitive series and emerging cricketing narratives beyond the India–Pakistan rivalry.