Sports Bulletin on March 5: Virat Kohli climbs up in ODI Rankings, Mohammed Shami urges to lift saliva ban

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In today's sports bulletin (March 5), Virat Kohli moves up in the ICC ODI rankings after his crucial knock against Australia, while Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai rises to No. 1 among all-rounders.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami has called for the ICC to lift the saliva ban, and Steve Smith has announced his retirement from ODIs. Here's a complete roundup of the top sports stories of the day.

Virat Kohli Climbs to Fourth in ICC ODI Rankings, Omarzai Becomes Top All-Rounder

Virat Kohli has overtaken Rohit Sharma to claim the fourth spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings for batters, following his match-winning 84-run knock against Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal. Shubman Gill remains the top-ranked batter, while Steven Smith, after announcing his ODI retirement, jumped six spots to 16th. Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai became the new No. 1 all-rounder, replacing Mohammad Nabi. India’s Axar Patel also made significant gains, moving to 13th among all-rounders. In bowling, Mohammed Shami climbed to 11th, while Matt Henry now ranks third.

Steve Smith Announces ODI Retirement After Australia’s Champions Trophy Exit

Veteran Australian batter Steve Smith has announced his retirement from ODI cricket following Australia’s semi-final loss to India in the Champions Trophy 2025. The 35-year-old, who top-scored with 73 in the match, informed his teammates of his decision immediately after the game. Smith, a two-time World Cup winner, scored 5,800 runs in 170 ODIs, including 12 centuries. He will continue playing Tests and T20Is, focusing on the upcoming World Test Championship Final and Ashes series. Cricket Australia hailed his legacy, calling him one of the country’s greatest ODI players.

Mohammed Shami Urges ICC to Lift Saliva Ban for Reverse Swing

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has appealed to the ICC to reconsider the saliva ban, stating that reverse swing has significantly diminished since its prohibition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking after India's Champions Trophy semi-final win over Australia, Shami emphasized the need to restore the art of reverse swing in ODIs, where two new balls from each end already limit its impact. He also acknowledged the added responsibility of leading India’s pace attack in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, aiming to maintain his rhythm and contribute effectively to the team’s success.

Virat Kohli Lauded as 'Greatest ODI Player of All Time’ After Match-Winning Knock vs Australia

Virat Kohli’s 84-run masterclass against Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final earned widespread praise from former and current cricketers. Steve Smith hailed him as the best chaser in the game, while Indian captain Rohit Sharma highlighted his composure under pressure. Michael Clarke and Ambati Rayudu also lauded Kohli’s ability to assess conditions and execute run chases with precision. Clarke went as far as calling him the "greatest one-day cricketer of all time," emphasizing his unmatched skill in high-pressure situations.

Rachin Ravindra Breaks Shikhar Dhawan’s Record, Becomes Fastest to Five Centuries in ICC ODI Events

New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra smashed a record-breaking century (108 off 101) against South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final, becoming the fastest batter to reach five centuries in ICC ODI tournaments. Ravindra achieved the milestone in just 13 innings, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan’s previous record of 15 innings. With this knock, he also overtook Ben Duckett as the tournament’s leading run-scorer (251 runs) and set a new record for most runs by a Kiwi batter in Champions Trophy history, surpassing Kane Williamson’s 244 in 2017.

Kane Williamson Equals Rahul Dravid, Steve Smith With Century Against South Africa

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson smashed a century (100 off 91 balls) against South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final, joining Rahul Dravid and Steve Smith with 48 international centuries. His partnership of 164 runs with Rachin Ravindra (108) helped the Black Caps take control of the game. This was Williamson’s 15th ODI century and his third consecutive ton against South Africa, further cementing his reputation as one of the format’s most consistent performers.

Indian TT Legend Sharath Kamal Announces Retirement, To Play Final Tournament in Chennai

Indian table tennis icon Achanta Sharath Kamal has announced his retirement from professional sport, with the upcoming WTT Contender Chennai (March 25-30) set to be his final tournament. The 42-year-old, who started playing at the age of two, has had an illustrious career spanning over two decades, winning 10 National Championship titles, seven Commonwealth Games gold medals, and multiple Asian Games and Asian Championship medals. Sharath expressed gratitude for his journey and plans to stay involved in the sport post-retirement, including his roles in the Indian Olympic Association and ITTF Athletes Commission.

Bhubaneswar to Host 2025 Super Cup in April

The 2025 edition of the Super Cup is set to take place in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in the second week of April, marking the second consecutive year the city will host the premier Indian football cup tournament. Defending champions East Bengal FC won the 2024 edition by defeating Odisha FC. The competition, featuring teams from the ISL and I-League, will offer a spot in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two qualifiers. Mohun Bagan SG has already secured a place in the continental tournament by winning the 2024-25 ISL Shield. The format and final dates are yet to be confirmed.

English Clubs Shine as Arsenal and Aston Villa Dominate Champions League Last-16

English sides had a strong night in the Champions League last-16 as Arsenal demolished PSV Eindhoven 7-1, and Aston Villa secured a 3-1 away win against Club Brugge. Arsenal's commanding performance saw goals from Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard (brace), Leandro Trossard, and Ricardo Calafiori. Meanwhile, Villa benefited from an own goal and a Marco Asensio penalty after Leon Bailey's early strike. In the Madrid derby, Real Madrid edged Atletico 2-1, with goals from Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz. Borussia Dortmund and Lille played out a 1-1 draw, with Karim Adeyemi and Hakon Haraldsson on target.

LeBron James Becomes First NBA Player to Reach 50,000 Career Points

LeBron James etched his name in NBA history once again by becoming the first player to reach 50,000 combined points in regular-season and playoff games. The Los Angeles Lakers star achieved the milestone with a three-pointer early in the game against the New Orleans Pelicans. James, who turned 40 this season, previously became the all-time leading regular-season scorer in 2023 and surpassed 40,000 points in 2024. He finished the night with 34 points in the Lakers’ 136-115 victory. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remains second on the all-time combined scoring list with 44,149 points.