Sports Bulletin on March 2: Rohit Sharma faces backlash after flop show against Kiwis, Virat Kohli falls flat in his 300th ODI

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In today's sports bulletin (March 2), Rohit Sharma’s struggles in the Champions Trophy 2025 have sparked fan outrage, while Virat Kohli’s milestone 300th ODI ended in disappointment.

Meanwhile, Vidarbha secured their third Ranji Trophy title, and BCCI issued new IPL pitch guidelines. In football, Atletico Madrid moved to the top of La Liga, and Manchester City advanced in the FA Cup. Let's take a look in detail below:

Rohit Sharma Faces Fan Backlash After Another Flop Show vs New Zealand

Rohit Sharma’s poor form in the Champions Trophy 2025 has triggered a meme fest on social media. The Indian skipper, who scored a century against England earlier, failed again in the group stage, managing just 15 runs before falling to a mistimed pull shot against New Zealand. Fans expressed frustration, with some calling for his retirement and others mocking him with memes. New Zealand’s bowlers dominated the day as India managed a par total of 249/9 in 50 overs with Shreyas Iyer top scoring at 79 while Hardik Pandya (45) and Axar Patel (42) made crucial contributions after top-order collapse.

Virat Kohli's 300th ODI Ends in Disappointment with 11-Run Knock

Virat Kohli’s milestone 300th ODI against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 ended with a modest 11-run knock. The Indian batter looked fluent early on, hitting two boundaries off Matt Henry, but fell to a stunning Glenn Phillips catch at backward point. Kohli, who has over 14,000 ODI runs, has often struggled in milestone matches, with just one century and one fifty in such games. Despite his dismissal, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel built a 98-run stand to stabilize India's innings.

Vidarbha Clinch Third Ranji Trophy Title in Seven Seasons with Dominant Win

Vidarbha secured their third Ranji Trophy title in seven years after taking a decisive first-innings lead against Kerala in the 2024-25 final in Nagpur. Led by Akshay Wadkar, Vidarbha posted 379 in the first innings before bowling out Kerala for 342. Karun Nair starred with an 86 in the first innings and a match-winning 135 in the second. Youngster Danish Malewar was named Player of the Match for his first-innings century, while Harsh Dubey set a new Ranji record with 69 wickets. Vidarbha's dominant season saw them win nine of ten matches, reaffirming their status as a domestic powerhouse.

BCCI Directs IPL Venues to Keep Pitches Fresh, Bans Local Matches Before IPL 2025

The BCCI has issued strict guidelines to state associations, instructing them to keep IPL venues in optimal condition ahead of IPL 2025, reported Cricbuzz. The board has barred the use of main pitches and outfields for local matches, Legends League games, and even IPL franchise practice sessions. The only exception is Ranji Trophy knockout matches if scheduled at an IPL venue. The directive affects major venues across India, including Wankhede, Eden Gardens, and M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. With IPL 2025 set to begin on March 24, teams may face logistical challenges for pre-tournament training.

South Africa, Australia Train in Dubai Ahead of Champions Trophy Semifinals

South Africa and Australia, both Group B teams in the Champions Trophy, have begun preparations for their semifinal matches at the ICC Academy in Dubai. The final venue for their games depends on the India-New Zealand clash, which will determine the Group A standings. Australia, led by Steve Smith, arrived in Dubai on March 1, while South Africa is set to train on March 3. The first semifinal is scheduled for March 4 in Dubai, with the second on March 5 in Lahore. The ICC's hybrid structure allows India to play its knockout matches in Dubai if they qualify.

Krishna Jayasankar Sets Indian Indoor Shot Put Record with 16.03m Throw, Wins Bronze

Krishna Jayasankar, 22, set a new Indian indoor shot put record with a throw of 16.03m at the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championship in Albuquerque. Her final-round effort secured her the bronze medal, surpassing the previous Indian indoor best of 15.54m by Poornarao Rane. Krishna, the daughter of former basketball internationals Prasanna and Jayasankar Menon, has also qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 14-15 in Virginia Beach. Meanwhile, Gulveer Singh impressed in distance running, clocking 12:59.77 in the 5000m event.

Atletico Madrid Edge Athletic to Go Top, Real Madrid Stunned by Betis

Atletico Madrid climbed to the top of La Liga with a narrow 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, courtesy of Julian Alvarez’s second-half strike. The visitors were unlucky, hitting the woodwork three times. Meanwhile, Real Madrid missed the chance to lead the table after a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis. Brahim Diaz opened the scoring, but Betis equalized through a set-piece before Isco sealed the win from the penalty spot. Elsewhere, Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla played out a 1-1 draw, while Girona salvaged a 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo.

Manchester City Advance to FA Cup Quarterfinals with 3-1 Win Over Plymouth

Manchester City booked their place in the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory over Plymouth. The visitors took a surprise lead through Maksym Talovierov’s header, but Nico O'Reilly responded with two headed goals, putting City ahead in the 76th minute. Kevin De Bruyne sealed the win in stoppage time. In other matches, Bournemouth edged Wolverhampton 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, Crystal Palace beat Millwall 3-1 despite an early injury to Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Preston dominated Burnley 3-0 in a second-tier derby.

Australia Clinches AFC U20 Asian Cup Title with Penalty Shootout Win Over Saudi Arabia

Australia edged past Saudi Arabia 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout to claim the AFC U20 Asian Cup title in Shenzhen. The final ended 1-1 in regulation time, with Louis Agosti scoring for Australia and Talal Haji equalizing for Saudi Arabia after a VAR review. Neither side could break the deadlock in extra time, leading to a shootout. Goalkeeper Steven Hall emerged as the hero, saving Bassam Hazazi’s final spot-kick to secure Australia’s victory.