Sports Bulletin on March 4: Virat Kohli Surpasses Rahul Dravid's record of most catches, Steve Smith leads from front with a knock of 73

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In today's sports bulletin (March 4), we look at a historic achievement by Virat Kohli, who has now overtaken Rahul Dravid in international cricket's all-time catches list.

Steve Smith once again proved his mettle in ICC knockout matches, while India paid tribute to a domestic legend. There's also major news from Pakistan and Argentina’s football squad announcement. Let's take a look in detail below:

Virat Kohli Surpasses Rahul Dravid, Becomes India’s Leading Catch-Taker in International Cricket

Virat Kohli set a new milestone during India's Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia, overtaking Rahul Dravid as India's all-time leading non-wicketkeeping catch-taker in international cricket. Kohli’s record-breaking 335th catch came at short cover, dismissing Josh Inglis off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling. This achievement follows his recent feat of surpassing Mohammad Azharuddin for the most catches in ODIs by an Indian. Globally, Kohli now trails only Mahela Jayawardene (440), Ricky Ponting (364), and Ross Taylor (351). In ODIs, he has equaled Ponting with 160 catches, ranking joint-second all-time.

Steve Smith Shines Again in ICC Knockouts, Hits 73 in Champions Trophy Semifinals

Australia's Steve Smith continued his impressive record in ICC ODI knockout matches, scoring a composed 73 off 96 balls against India in the Champions Trophy semifinal in Dubai. His innings, featuring four boundaries and a six, ended when Mohammed Shami castled his stumps. Smith now has 418 runs in ICC ODI knockouts at an average of 69.66, including a century and four fifties. He also surpassed Michael Clarke to become Australia's fifth-highest international run-getter with 17,165 runs. Australia eventually set a target of 265 after getting bowled out in the 50th over.

India Wears Black Armbands in Champions Trophy SF to Honour Padmakar Shivalkar

The Indian cricket team wore black armbands during their Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia on March 4, 2025, as a tribute to Padmakar Shivalkar, the legendary Mumbai spinner who passed away at 84. Shivalkar was a stalwart of domestic cricket, playing a key role in Bombay’s Ranji Trophy dominance, taking 589 wickets in 124 First-Class matches. Despite never playing for India, he was widely respected and received the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. The tribute held special significance with India’s skipper Rohit Sharma also hailing from Mumbai.

Salman Agha Named Pakistan’s T20I Captain for New Zealand Tour, Rizwan Retains ODI Leadership

Pakistan has appointed all-rounder Salman Agha as the T20I captain for the upcoming New Zealand tour, while Mohammad Rizwan will continue leading the ODI squad. Agha, expressing his excitement, emphasized playing fearless cricket and adapting to modern T20 trends ahead of the World Cup. Shadab Khan will serve as his deputy. The PCB’s squad overhaul sees senior players Babar Azam and Rizwan omitted from the T20I setup to foster a more aggressive approach. Aqib Javed remains interim head coach, with Mohammad Yousuf joining as batting coach. The tour begins on March 16 with five T20Is and three ODIs.

South Africa Calls Up Linde as Cover for Injured Markram Ahead of Champions Trophy Semifinal

South Africa has brought in left-arm spin all-rounder George Linde as cover for Aiden Markram ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy semifinal against New Zealand. Markram suffered a hamstring injury during the last league match against England and will undergo a fitness test to determine his availability. Linde, who played a key role in MI Cape Town’s SA20 triumph, joins as a traveling reserve and will only be officially added if Markram is ruled out. With drier conditions expected in Dubai, his inclusion could be strategic should South Africa reach the final.

Tom Latham Downplays Hectic Travel as New Zealand Focuses on SA Semifinal

New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Latham shrugged off concerns over the team's demanding travel schedule ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy semifinal against South Africa. Having moved between Dubai and Lahore, the Black Caps are focused on adapting to conditions and executing their game plan. Latham highlighted the potential ease of batting later in the innings in Lahore and recalled New Zealand’s recent win over South Africa at the venue. Acknowledging South Africa’s well-balanced squad, he expects a thrilling contest as both teams eye a place in the final.

Sunil Gavaskar Slams Politician Over Rohit Sharma Body-Shaming Controversy

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticized Congress leader Shama Mohamed for her remarks on India captain Rohit Sharma's weight. Mohamed, in a now-deleted post, called Rohit "fat for a sportsman" and an "unimpressive captain," drawing backlash from fans and politicians alike. Gavaskar dismissed the criticism, emphasizing that cricket is about mental strength, not physical appearance. He likened the selection criteria to picking models if only slim players were desired. Congress distanced itself from Mohamed's comments, reaffirming its respect for sporting icons ahead of India’s Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia.

Messi Included in Argentina’s Provisional Squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina's provisional 33-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil. The list also features uncapped youngsters Claudio Echeverri (Manchester City) and Santiago Castro (Bologna). However, Marcos Acuña was left out following underwhelming performances for River Plate. Argentina, the reigning World Cup and Copa America champions, lead the South American qualifiers with 25 points from 12 matches, holding a five-point advantage over second-placed Uruguay. They will face Uruguay in Montevideo on March 21 and Brazil in Buenos Aires on March 25.