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All-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/nitish-kumar-reddy">Nitish Kumar Reddy</a> is set to rejoin <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunrisers-hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> after recovering from a side strain that had sidelined him since January.
Nitish successfully cleared all fitness tests, including the yo-yo test, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. With the physios giving him the green light, he is ready for action, as per PTI.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/all-50-pakistan-cricketers-overlooked-in-the-hundred-draft-heres-why-8854794">All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft &ndash; Here's why</a>
The 21-year-old Andhra cricketer last played for India in the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens on January 22, though he did not bat or bowl in that match. He trained ahead of the second T20I in Chennai but was ruled out of the game and the remainder of the five-match series due to his injury.
Hyderabad retained Nitish for ₹6 crore ahead of last year&rsquo;s auction, following an impressive IPL season where he scored 303 runs from 13 matches at a strike rate of 143. He also delivered standout performances during India&rsquo;s tour of Australia, including a resilient 114 in the fourth Test at Melbourne.
Nitish Kumar Reddy will be a vital cog in the wheel for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming IPL 2025. The Pat Cummins-led side acquired some quality players in the auction and with a core of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, and Reddy, they will be a force to reckon with.
Nitish will soon join the SRH squad as they prepare to kick off their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">IPL 2025</a> campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 23 in Hyderabad.
Outside of the ten cities that will host matches, including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Mullanpur, Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, Guwahati and Dharamsala will stage a few matches this season. Guwahati will host two games (of the Rajasthan Royals) with the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings being the opponents on March 26 and 30, respectively.<o:p></o:p>
Moreover, Hyderabad will host Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator, while the Eden Gardens will stage Qualifier 2 and the summit clash.

Sports, Cricket: Nitish successfully cleared all fitness tests, including the yo-yo test, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. With the physios giving him the green light

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is set to rejoin Sunrisers Hyderabad after recovering from a side strain that had sidelined him since January. Nitish successfully cleared all fitness tests, including the yo-yo test, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. With the physios giving him the green light, he is ready for action, as per PTI. Also Read: All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft – Here's why The 21-year-old Andhra cricketer last played for India in the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens on January 22, though he did not bat or bowl in that match. He trained ahead of the second T20I in Chennai but was ruled out of the game and the remainder of the five-match series due to his injury. Hyderabad retained Nitish for ₹6 crore ahead of last year’s auction, following an impressive IPL season where he scored 303 runs from 13 matches at a strike rate of 143. He also delivered standout performances during India’s tour of Australia, including a resilient 114 in the fourth Test at Melbourne. Nitish Kumar Reddy will be a vital cog in the wheel for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming IPL 2025. The Pat Cummins-led side acquired some quality players in the auction and with a core of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, and Reddy, they will be a force to reckon with. Nitish will soon join the SRH squad as they prepare to kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 23 in Hyderabad. Outside of the ten cities that will host matches, including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Mullanpur, Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, Guwahati and Dharamsala will stage a few matches this season. Guwahati will host two games (of the Rajasthan Royals) with the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings being the opponents on March 26 and 30, respectively. Moreover, Hyderabad will host Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator, while the Eden Gardens will stage Qualifier 2 and the summit clash.

IPL 2025: All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy set to join SRH after clearing fitness test

The recently concluded The Hundred Draft saw a complete snub of Pakistani players, with all 50 cricketers, including big names like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/naseem-shah">Naseem Shah</a>, Saim Ayub, and Shadab Khan, going unsold. Despite the presence of 45 male and five female cricketers in the draft pool, none found takers, raising speculation over the reasons behind this exclusion.
Pakistan&rsquo;s top players had placed themselves in premium price categories, yet none were selected. Naseem Shah &amp; Shadab Khan &ndash; $155,000 (top bracket), Saim Ayub &ndash; $102,000 (approximately). Similarly, women&rsquo;s cricketers Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf also failed to attract bids.
<h2>Possible reasons for snub</h2>
1. Growing influence of IPL owners in The Hundred One of the key factors behind this widespread snub could be the increasing presence of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) franchise owners in The Hundred. Currently, several teams in the tournament are either fully or partially owned by IPL stakeholders:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Oval Invincibles &ndash; Owned by Mumbai Indians</li>
<li>Manchester Originals &ndash; Lucknow Super Giants</li>
<li>Northern Superchargers &ndash; Sunrisers Hyderabad</li>
<li>Southern Brave &ndash; Delhi Capitals</li>
</ul>
Beyond IPL franchises, other Indian-origin businessmen have also invested in The Hundred:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Welsh Fire &ndash; 50% stake owned by Sanjay Govil, an Indian-American entrepreneur London Spirit &ndash; 49% stake acquired by Cricket Investor Holdings Limited, a consortium of Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs</li>
<li>Given the long-standing cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan and the IPL&rsquo;s exclusion of Pakistani players since 2009, this ownership factor may have played a role in franchises steering clear of Pakistan cricketers.</li>
</ul>
2. Pakistan&rsquo;s recent struggles in white-ball cricket Another major factor could be Pakistan&rsquo;s inconsistent performances in white-ball formats over the past year. With underwhelming results in ODIs and T20Is, and key players struggling to make an impact in global leagues, teams might have preferred more in-form players from other nations.
3. PCB&rsquo;s NOC issues &amp; player availability concerns In recent years, Pakistani players have faced No Objection Certificate (NOC) issues from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pakistan-cricket-board">Pakistan Cricket Board</a> (PCB). Last year, players like Naseem Shah and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shaheen-afridi">Shaheen Afridi</a> had difficulties securing NOCs, leading to uncertainty about their availability for The Hundred. Teams may have hesitated to invest in players who could face last-minute withdrawal issues due to PCB regulations.
<h2>What this means for Pakistan cricket</h2>
The complete exclusion of Pakistani players from The Hundred Draft signals a worrying trend for Pakistan cricket. While commercial and ownership factors may have played a part, the lack of demand for Pakistani players in top leagues could also point to deeper issues related to performance, board policies, and global cricketing politics.
With The Hundred growing in stature, this snub could push Pakistan&rsquo;s cricketers and PCB to reassess their approach to international leagues and player management to ensure better representation in future drafts.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Despite the presence of 45 male and five female cricketers in the draft pool, none found takers, raising speculation over the reasons behind this exclusion

The recently concluded The Hundred Draft saw a complete snub of Pakistani players, with all 50 cricketers, including big names like Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, and Shadab Khan, going unsold. Despite the presence of 45 male and five female cricketers in the draft pool, none found takers, raising speculation over the reasons behind this exclusion. Pakistan’s top players had placed themselves in premium price categories, yet none were selected. Naseem Shah & Shadab Khan – $155,000 (top bracket), Saim Ayub – $102,000 (approximately). Similarly, women’s cricketers Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf also failed to attract bids. Possible reasons for snub 1. Growing influence of IPL owners in The Hundred One of the key factors behind this widespread snub could be the increasing presence of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners in The Hundred. Currently, several teams in the tournament are either fully or partially owned by IPL stakeholders: Oval Invincibles – Owned by Mumbai Indians Manchester Originals – Lucknow Super Giants Northern Superchargers – Sunrisers Hyderabad Southern Brave – Delhi Capitals Beyond IPL franchises, other Indian-origin businessmen have also invested in The Hundred: Welsh Fire – 50% stake owned by Sanjay Govil, an Indian-American entrepreneur London Spirit – 49% stake acquired by Cricket Investor Holdings Limited, a consortium of Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs Given the long-standing cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan and the IPL’s exclusion of Pakistani players since 2009, this ownership factor may have played a role in franchises steering clear of Pakistan cricketers. 2. Pakistan’s recent struggles in white-ball cricket Another major factor could be Pakistan’s inconsistent performances in white-ball formats over the past year. With underwhelming results in ODIs and T20Is, and key players struggling to make an impact in global leagues, teams might have preferred more in-form players from other nations. 3. PCB’s NOC issues & player availability concerns In recent years, Pakistani players have faced No Objection Certificate (NOC) issues from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Last year, players like Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi had difficulties securing NOCs, leading to uncertainty about their availability for The Hundred. Teams may have hesitated to invest in players who could face last-minute withdrawal issues due to PCB regulations. What this means for Pakistan cricket The complete exclusion of Pakistani players from The Hundred Draft signals a worrying trend for Pakistan cricket. While commercial and ownership factors may have played a part, the lack of demand for Pakistani players in top leagues could also point to deeper issues related to performance, board policies, and global cricketing politics. With The Hundred growing in stature, this snub could push Pakistan’s cricketers and PCB to reassess their approach to international leagues and player management to ensure better representation in future drafts. (With inputs from agencies)

All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft – Here's why

West Indies Masters fast bowler <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/tino-best">Tino Best</a> reflected on his most cherished moments from the ongoing International Masters League 2025 season, expressing his joy at witnessing cricketing legends in action.
For Best, watching vintage <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sachin-tendulkar">Sachin Tendulkar</a>&rsquo;s elegant cover drive, Jacques Kallis&rsquo;s authoritative backfoot punch, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shane-watson">Shane Watson</a>&rsquo;s sensational hundred was nothing short of magical. He also reminisced about Makhaya Ntini swinging the ball back in to dismantle batters, proving that these icons still have fire left in their bellies.
&ldquo;Seeing vintage Sachin Tendulkar&rsquo;s cover drive, watching Jacques Kallis punch the ball off the back foot, seeing Shane Watson score hundreds&mdash;it&rsquo;s been memorable, fantastic! It shows the old boys still have a little bit of fire left in their belly,&rdquo; Best said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/varun-chakravarthy-refelcts-on-horror-2021-t20-world-cup-expereince-says-it-was-a-dark-time-for-me-8853930">Varun Chakravarthy reflects on 2021 T20 World Cup experience, says 'it was a dark time for me'</a>
Though he has played only two matches for the West Indies Masters in International Masters League 2025, picking up two wickets, Best&rsquo;s most rewarding experience has been soaking in the electrifying atmosphere and engaging with passionate Indian fans.
&ldquo;The crowds have been fantastic. The interaction as well. India is the showpiece of world cricket now. It&rsquo;s always amazing to see the passion still alive for the older generation of cricketers,&rdquo; he added.
Despite being nearly 44, Best is still a source of inspiration for young cricketers who eagerly ask how he continues to bowl at express pace.
<h2>West Indies Masters beat Sri Lanka by 6-run, to meet India Masters in final</h2>
West Indies Masters came up with a clinical all-round performance to register a six-run win over Sri Lanka Masters in the second semi-final of the International Masters League (IML) 2025 and set up a date with the Sachin Tendulkar-led India Masters in Sunday&rsquo;s title clash.
West Indies rode on a half-century by Denesh Ramdin and an equally effective knock from Brian Lara, before Tino Best&rsquo;s four-wicket burst to overcome the Sri Lankans at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Despite being nearly 44, Best is still a source of inspiration for young cricketers who eagerly ask how he continues to bowl at express pace

West Indies Masters fast bowler Tino Best reflected on his most cherished moments from the ongoing International Masters League 2025 season, expressing his joy at witnessing cricketing legends in action. For Best, watching vintage Sachin Tendulkar’s elegant cover drive, Jacques Kallis’s authoritative backfoot punch, and Shane Watson’s sensational hundred was nothing short of magical. He also reminisced about Makhaya Ntini swinging the ball back in to dismantle batters, proving that these icons still have fire left in their bellies. “Seeing vintage Sachin Tendulkar’s cover drive, watching Jacques Kallis punch the ball off the back foot, seeing Shane Watson score hundreds—it’s been memorable, fantastic! It shows the old boys still have a little bit of fire left in their belly,” Best said. Also Read: Varun Chakravarthy reflects on 2021 T20 World Cup experience, says 'it was a dark time for me' Though he has played only two matches for the West Indies Masters in International Masters League 2025, picking up two wickets, Best’s most rewarding experience has been soaking in the electrifying atmosphere and engaging with passionate Indian fans. “The crowds have been fantastic. The interaction as well. India is the showpiece of world cricket now. It’s always amazing to see the passion still alive for the older generation of cricketers,” he added. Despite being nearly 44, Best is still a source of inspiration for young cricketers who eagerly ask how he continues to bowl at express pace. West Indies Masters beat Sri Lanka by 6-run, to meet India Masters in final West Indies Masters came up with a clinical all-round performance to register a six-run win over Sri Lanka Masters in the second semi-final of the International Masters League (IML) 2025 and set up a date with the Sachin Tendulkar-led India Masters in Sunday’s title clash. West Indies rode on a half-century by Denesh Ramdin and an equally effective knock from Brian Lara, before Tino Best’s four-wicket burst to overcome the Sri Lankans at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. (With inputs from agencies)

Vintage Sachin, Kallis' backfoot and Watson’s heroics: Tino Best relives IML’s most epic moments

India star bowler Varun Char Chakravarthy reflected on his 2021 journey with the India squad after overcoming a hurdle of challenges. Appearing on a YouTube channel, Varun spoke on the time when he was first included in the Indian squad, which became the first to lose to Pakistan in a World Cup match. Now a key weapon in the Indian squad Varun helped the Men in Blue win the 2025 Champions Trophy as they went undefeated in the recently concluded tournament.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Varun recalls 2021 horror show</h2>
"It was a dark time for me. I was depressed because I thought I was not able to do justice after I was picked for the World Cup with a lot of hype. I regretted not taking even one wicket. After that, for three years, I was not selected. So, I think the comeback to the team was tougher than the path to my debut," Varun said while speaking on a YouTube show.
In 2021, Varun was part of the Indian squad that lost to Pakistan for the first time in a World Cup match. The team led by Virat Kohli was outplayed on 23 Oct 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium as Pakistan won by 10 wickets. After the loss, the Indian team underwent major changes including the resignation of Virat Kohli as captain and Rohit Sharma coming in as the skipper.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/jasprit-bumrah-injury-update-latest-news-blow-for-mumbai-indians-as-pacer-ruled-out-of-first-few-ipl-2025-games-8852847" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Jasprit Bumrah injury update: Blow for Mumbai Indians as pacer ruled out of first few IPL 2025 games</a>
Varun was also out of the Indian squad until his recent performances for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw him earn a place in the Champions Trophy 2025. He repaid the trust showed by head coach Gautam Gambhir and helped India win their record-breaking third Champions Trophy title in Dubai. He was named Player of the Match on a couple of occasions and scalped five wickets in the group match against New Zealand.

Sports, Cricket: Varun Chakravarthy spoke on the time when he was first included in the Indian squad, which became the first to lose to Pakistan in a World Cup match.

India star bowler Varun Char Chakravarthy reflected on his 2021 journey with the India squad after overcoming a hurdle of challenges. Appearing on a YouTube channel, Varun spoke on the time when he was first included in the Indian squad, which became the first to lose to Pakistan in a World Cup match. Now a key weapon in the Indian squad Varun helped the Men in Blue win the 2025 Champions Trophy as they went undefeated in the recently concluded tournament. Varun recalls 2021 horror show "It was a dark time for me. I was depressed because I thought I was not able to do justice after I was picked for the World Cup with a lot of hype. I regretted not taking even one wicket. After that, for three years, I was not selected. So, I think the comeback to the team was tougher than the path to my debut," Varun said while speaking on a YouTube show. In 2021, Varun was part of the Indian squad that lost to Pakistan for the first time in a World Cup match. The team led by Virat Kohli was outplayed on 23 Oct 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium as Pakistan won by 10 wickets. After the loss, the Indian team underwent major changes including the resignation of Virat Kohli as captain and Rohit Sharma coming in as the skipper. ALSO READ | Jasprit Bumrah injury update: Blow for Mumbai Indians as pacer ruled out of first few IPL 2025 games Varun was also out of the Indian squad until his recent performances for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw him earn a place in the Champions Trophy 2025. He repaid the trust showed by head coach Gautam Gambhir and helped India win their record-breaking third Champions Trophy title in Dubai. He was named Player of the Match on a couple of occasions and scalped five wickets in the group match against New Zealand.

Varun Chakravarthy reflects on 2021 T20 World Cup experience, says 'it was a dark time for me'

The defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad embraced the festive spirit of Holi at the team hotel, celebrating the festival of colours with enthusiasm on Friday (Mar 14). The players and support staff took a break from their rigorous pre-season preparations to indulge in traditional Holi celebrations, exchanging colours, laughter, and camaraderie.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Same same but different 💜😍 <a href="https://t.co/ewPXfwLIyB">pic.twitter.com/ewPXfwLIyB</a>
&mdash; KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders/status/1900526450190500237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">KKR celebrate Holi</h2>
Amidst a splash of bright hues, KKR stars including Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi were seen enjoying the festivities, smearing colours on each other. Also present during the celebrations were members of the coaching staff, including head coach Chandrakant Pandit and spin bowling coach Carl Crowe. The joyous occasion showcased the strong bond within the team and the high spirits ahead of the upcoming season.
Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22 at the iconic Eden Gardens.
The Delhi Capitals squad, currently in New Delhi for their IPL 2025 preseason camp also celebrated Holi at their team hotel. The celebration came just hours after DC announced Axar Patel as their new captain for the new season.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/jasprit-bumrah-injury-update-latest-news-blow-for-mumbai-indians-as-pacer-ruled-out-of-first-few-ipl-2025-games-8852847" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Jasprit Bumrah injury update: Blow for Mumbai Indians as pacer ruled out of first few IPL 2025 games</a>
The 31-year-old joined the Capitals in 2019 and has since emerged as one of the top-performing players for the franchise across the six seasons with his ability to step up to the occasion.
In the 82 matches he has donned the red and blue for the Capitals, Patel has scored 967 runs and picked up 62 wickets at an impressive economy of 7.09. Apart from being a live wire on the field, the all-rounder has also developed a special rapport with the Capitals&rsquo; and the Indian national team&rsquo;s fans.
Punjab Kings team too celebrated the festival of colour Holi on Friday, during their IPL 2025 pre-season training camp at HPCA stadium, Dharamsala.

Sports, Cricket, IPL: The defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad embraced the festive spirit of Holi at the team hotel.

The defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad embraced the festive spirit of Holi at the team hotel, celebrating the festival of colours with enthusiasm on Friday (Mar 14). The players and support staff took a break from their rigorous pre-season preparations to indulge in traditional Holi celebrations, exchanging colours, laughter, and camaraderie. Same same but different 💜😍 pic.twitter.com/ewPXfwLIyB — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 14, 2025 KKR celebrate Holi Amidst a splash of bright hues, KKR stars including Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi were seen enjoying the festivities, smearing colours on each other. Also present during the celebrations were members of the coaching staff, including head coach Chandrakant Pandit and spin bowling coach Carl Crowe. The joyous occasion showcased the strong bond within the team and the high spirits ahead of the upcoming season. Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22 at the iconic Eden Gardens. The Delhi Capitals squad, currently in New Delhi for their IPL 2025 preseason camp also celebrated Holi at their team hotel. The celebration came just hours after DC announced Axar Patel as their new captain for the new season. ALSO READ | Jasprit Bumrah injury update: Blow for Mumbai Indians as pacer ruled out of first few IPL 2025 games The 31-year-old joined the Capitals in 2019 and has since emerged as one of the top-performing players for the franchise across the six seasons with his ability to step up to the occasion. In the 82 matches he has donned the red and blue for the Capitals, Patel has scored 967 runs and picked up 62 wickets at an impressive economy of 7.09. Apart from being a live wire on the field, the all-rounder has also developed a special rapport with the Capitals’ and the Indian national team’s fans. Punjab Kings team too celebrated the festival of colour Holi on Friday, during their IPL 2025 pre-season training camp at HPCA stadium, Dharamsala.

IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals squads celebrate Holi ahead of upcoming season

DC-W vs MI-W WPL 2025 Final Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians will lock horns in the final of the Women's Premier League (WPL 2025) as they meet for the second time in the summit clash. Having secured the top spot in the league phase Delhi got direct entry into the final while Mumbai got the better of Gujarat Giants to book their place in the final. Ahead of the WPL 2025 Final contest between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, here are all the details of the clash.&nbsp;
<h2 class="left">Where to watch the Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match on TV?</h2>
The Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match will be telecast on Sports 18 Network in India.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="left">Where to watch the Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match Live Streaming online on OTT?</h2>
The Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.
<h2 class="left">Which stadium will host the Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match?</h2>
The Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match will be played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal left">What time will the Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match starts?</h2>
The Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match will start at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday (Mar 15) with the toss taking place at 7:00 PM IST.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/jasprit-bumrah-injury-update-latest-news-blow-for-mumbai-indians-as-pacer-ruled-out-of-first-few-ipl-2025-games-8852847" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Jasprit Bumrah injury update: Blow for Mumbai Indians as pacer ruled out of first few IPL 2025 games</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">WPL 2025 Final: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Squads<o:p></o:p></h2>
Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen, Sarah Bryce (wk), Niki Prasad, Minnu Mani, Shikha Pandey, Titas Sadhu, Sneha Deepthi, Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Taniya Bhatia, Nandini Kashyap, Nallapureddy Charani.
Mumbai Indians:&nbsp;Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amanjot Kaur, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sajeevan Sajana, G Kamalini, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Parunika Sisodia, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Keerthana Balakrishnan, Saika Ishaque, Jintimani Kalita, Amandeep Kaur, Akshita Maheshwari
&nbsp;

Sports, Cricket: Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians will lock horns in the final of the Women's Premier League (WPL 2025) as they meet for the second time in the summit clash.

DC-W vs MI-W WPL 2025 Final Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians will lock horns in the final of the Women's Premier League (WPL 2025) as they meet for the second time in the summit clash. Having secured the top spot in the league phase Delhi got direct entry into the final while Mumbai got the better of Gujarat Giants to book their place in the final. Ahead of the WPL 2025 Final contest between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, here are all the details of the clash. Where to watch the Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match on TV? The Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match will be telecast on Sports 18 Network in India. Where to watch the Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match Live Streaming online on OTT? The Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Which stadium will host the Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match? The Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match will be played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. What time will the Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match starts? The Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians WPL 2025 Final match will start at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday (Mar 15) with the toss taking place at 7:00 PM IST. ALSO READ | Jasprit Bumrah injury update: Blow for Mumbai Indians as pacer ruled out of first few IPL 2025 games WPL 2025 Final: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Squads Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen, Sarah Bryce (wk), Niki Prasad, Minnu Mani, Shikha Pandey, Titas Sadhu, Sneha Deepthi, Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Taniya Bhatia, Nandini Kashyap, Nallapureddy Charani. Mumbai Indians: Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amanjot Kaur, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sajeevan Sajana, G Kamalini, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Parunika Sisodia, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Keerthana Balakrishnan, Saika Ishaque, Jintimani Kalita, Amandeep Kaur, Akshita Maheshwari

DC-W vs MI-W Free Live Streaming | When and where to watch WPL 2025 Final Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians live online

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has ordered the review of recent pay cut for the players in the National T20 Cup. The PCB, on March 12, announced 75 percent pay cut for the players and reserves for the upcoming domestic tournament. The decision to review the pay cut came a day later on March 13 amid criticism about the decision, reported news agency PTI.&nbsp;
The PCB had announced reduced match fess of PKR 10,000 ($35 approx) - down 75% from PKR 40,000 ($142) for the players and PKR 5,000 ($17) from PKR 20,000 ($70) for the reserves. The match fees of PKR 40,000 is still less than in 2022 when the players were paid PKR 60,000 ($213).
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rubbing-it-in-cricket-australia-marks-holi-allowing-fans-to-pose-with-2023-odi-world-cup-trophy-netizens-react-8852929">Rubbing it in? Cricket Australia marks Holi allowing fans to pose with 2023 ODI World Cup trophy: netizens react</a>
After the announcement of pay cut decision, many former cricketers raised the question whether the board is going through a financial instability.
The decision of pay cut came despite PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi&rsquo;s earlier statements emphasising financial investment in cricket. Shortly after assuming office, Naqvi had stated that PCB funds should be spent on player development rather than being 'locked away'.
"We'll try to make the best available for you. I have told the Pakistan Cricket Board our job is not to save money or keep it hoarded away, but to spend it on cricket, from grassroots right through to the national team. The money will be spent on your fitness, training and coaches rather than keeping it locked away," Naqvi had said days after his appointment as PCB chairman last year.
A Pakistan Cricket Board official had told ESPNcricinfo that the fee reduction is not due to financial constraints but is based on the board&rsquo;s belief that players now have more earning opportunities with an expanded domestic calendar.
The National T20 Cup is set to begin on March 14, featuring 39 matches across Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan, with the final scheduled for March 27 in Faisalabad.

The PCB had announced reduced match fess of PKR 10,000 ($35 approx) - down 75% from PKR 40,000 for the players and PKR 5,000 from PKR 20,000 for the reserves. Cricket Sports

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has ordered the review of recent pay cut for the players in the National T20 Cup. The PCB, on March 12, announced 75 percent pay cut for the players and reserves for the upcoming domestic tournament. The decision to review the pay cut came a day later on March 13 amid criticism about the decision, reported news agency PTI. The PCB had announced reduced match fess of PKR 10,000 ($35 approx) - down 75% from PKR 40,000 ($142) for the players and PKR 5,000 ($17) from PKR 20,000 ($70) for the reserves. The match fees of PKR 40,000 is still less than in 2022 when the players were paid PKR 60,000 ($213). Also Read: Rubbing it in? Cricket Australia marks Holi allowing fans to pose with 2023 ODI World Cup trophy: netizens react After the announcement of pay cut decision, many former cricketers raised the question whether the board is going through a financial instability. The decision of pay cut came despite PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s earlier statements emphasising financial investment in cricket. Shortly after assuming office, Naqvi had stated that PCB funds should be spent on player development rather than being 'locked away'. "We'll try to make the best available for you. I have told the Pakistan Cricket Board our job is not to save money or keep it hoarded away, but to spend it on cricket, from grassroots right through to the national team. The money will be spent on your fitness, training and coaches rather than keeping it locked away," Naqvi had said days after his appointment as PCB chairman last year. A Pakistan Cricket Board official had told ESPNcricinfo that the fee reduction is not due to financial constraints but is based on the board’s belief that players now have more earning opportunities with an expanded domestic calendar. The National T20 Cup is set to begin on March 14, featuring 39 matches across Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan, with the final scheduled for March 27 in Faisalabad.

PCB does a U-turn: A day after announcing 75 per cent pay cut in National T20 cup, board orders review of decision

Cricket Australia decided to celebrate the colorful Indian festival of Holi in a unique manner and with best intentions (hopefully) but the gesture didn't go well with some fans. To mark the festival and extend the greetings of Holi, Cricket Australia hosted an event at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the fans given the craze of the game among Indians.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/unfair-advantage-if-aussie-great-mcgrath-shuts-down-doubters-after-indias-champions-trophy-win-8852376">'Unfair advantage if...,' Aussie great McGrath shuts down doubters after India's Champions Trophy win</a>
The catch, however, was that Cricket Australia not only displayed the ODI World Cup 2023 trophy at the MCG but even allowed the fans to click photos with it. Notably, Australia had won the iconic trophy by beating India in the final on November 19, 2023 in Ahmedabad. Have a look at the photos below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Cricket Australia extended warm wishes to everyone celebrating the vibrant festival of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Holi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Holi</a>. To join in the festivities, Cricket Australia took the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy to Holi events in Melbourne, giving cricket fans and the community a unique opportunity to take&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/UDMLWF9Xkq">pic.twitter.com/UDMLWF9Xkq</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1900414688221159536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The gesture, however good, was not well accepted by fans who showed their displeasure in the comments. Below are what some of them read:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ye koi tareeka hai jale pe namak chidkne ka ? 🥹
&mdash; Harsh Tegta (@iamharshtegta) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamharshtegta/status/1900452904357531951?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m88hq0fu-h029w9aw-72omb7xs">
Zakhmu pe namak
&mdash; Dar Younis (@younisrashidd) <a href="https://twitter.com/younisrashidd/status/1900454821062455767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m88hql66-ede2unnm-xgmfxt9s">
Aise kon wish krta h 🥲
&mdash; Saikat 🇮🇳 (@saaiiikat) <a href="https://twitter.com/saaiiikat/status/1900420879307407740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m88hr7j3-y4gzbijn-gydsakke">
Bas kar bhai kyun rang me bhang krne ki kosis kr raha
&mdash; Amitabh Gupta 🇮🇳 (@hotstarjioIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/hotstarjioIndia/status/1900419239552704668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
The Indian team was in full flow during the 2023 ODI World Cup before losing the final in an anti-climatic finish. Rohit Sharma-led team was unbeaten throughout the tournament including beating Australia in league stage which gave the fans a lot of hopes.
The Indian fans compared the opportunity to win the 2023 ODI World Cup Final as a means to mend the heartbreak they had suffered in 2003 - when Ricky Ponting-led Australia had decimated Sourav Ganguly-led India in a one-side ODI World Cup Final.
Earlier in 2023, Australia had also beaten India in the World Test Champions (WTC) final. With the win in WTC Final, Australia became the first team to win all ICC titles - ODI World Cup (six times), T20 World Cup (once), Champions Trophy (twice) and WTC (once).
India, meanwhile, bounced back after the crushing loss in 2023 ODI World Cup final and won two back-to-back ICC trophies since - 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy.

To mark the festival and extend the greetings of Holi, Cricket Australia hosted an event at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the fans. Cricket Sports

Cricket Australia decided to celebrate the colorful Indian festival of Holi in a unique manner and with best intentions (hopefully) but the gesture didn't go well with some fans. To mark the festival and extend the greetings of Holi, Cricket Australia hosted an event at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the fans given the craze of the game among Indians. Also Read: 'Unfair advantage if...,' Aussie great McGrath shuts down doubters after India's Champions Trophy win The catch, however, was that Cricket Australia not only displayed the ODI World Cup 2023 trophy at the MCG but even allowed the fans to click photos with it. Notably, Australia had won the iconic trophy by beating India in the final on November 19, 2023 in Ahmedabad. Have a look at the photos below: Cricket Australia extended warm wishes to everyone celebrating the vibrant festival of #Holi. To join in the festivities, Cricket Australia took the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy to Holi events in Melbourne, giving cricket fans and the community a unique opportunity to take… pic.twitter.com/UDMLWF9Xkq — ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2025 The gesture, however good, was not well accepted by fans who showed their displeasure in the comments. Below are what some of them read: Ye koi tareeka hai jale pe namak chidkne ka ? 🥹 — Harsh Tegta (@iamharshtegta) March 14, 2025 Zakhmu pe namak — Dar Younis (@younisrashidd) March 14, 2025 Aise kon wish krta h 🥲 — Saikat 🇮🇳 (@saaiiikat) March 14, 2025 Bas kar bhai kyun rang me bhang krne ki kosis kr raha — Amitabh Gupta 🇮🇳 (@hotstarjioIndia) March 14, 2025 The Indian team was in full flow during the 2023 ODI World Cup before losing the final in an anti-climatic finish. Rohit Sharma-led team was unbeaten throughout the tournament including beating Australia in league stage which gave the fans a lot of hopes. The Indian fans compared the opportunity to win the 2023 ODI World Cup Final as a means to mend the heartbreak they had suffered in 2003 - when Ricky Ponting-led Australia had decimated Sourav Ganguly-led India in a one-side ODI World Cup Final. Earlier in 2023, Australia had also beaten India in the World Test Champions (WTC) final. With the win in WTC Final, Australia became the first team to win all ICC titles - ODI World Cup (six times), T20 World Cup (once), Champions Trophy (twice) and WTC (once). India, meanwhile, bounced back after the crushing loss in 2023 ODI World Cup final and won two back-to-back ICC trophies since - 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy.

Rubbing it in? Cricket Australia marks Holi by allowing fans to pose with 2023 ODI World Cup trophy: netizens react

In a blow to Mumbai Indians, premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the first few games of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The development was announced by cricket news website ESPNCricinfo on Friday (Mar 14). He is expected to join the team in early April, which is also subject to clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence.&nbsp;
The IPL 2025 season starts on March 22 with the match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-two-time-icc-trophy-winning-all-rounder-axar-patel-is-new-delhi-capitals-captain-8852436">Two-time ICC trophy winning all-rounder Axar Patel is new Delhi Capitals captain for IPL 2025</a>
Bumrah is going through a stress-related back injury which he picked up in the fifth Test against Australia in away Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series earlier in January. He hasn't played any form of cricket since.
The pacer, owing to the injury, was also excluded from India's Champions Trophy squad despite being named among 15-man provisional team. BCCI, however, decided not to include him in the final 15 after assessing him before the tournament squad announcement deadline.
Bumrah is a vital cog in India's pace lineup. He played an important role in India winning the 2024 T20 World Cup in South Africa. His availability for the England Test tour, which follows the IPL 2025, will be crucial for India's chances.
With two world cups in sight- T20 in 2026 and ODI in 2027 - taking care of Bumrah's fitness is of paramount importance for India. Recently, former MI bowling coach and NZ pacer Shane Bond also said that Bumrah has to be taken care of extremely well in order to extend his career.
According to Bond, an injury in the same area where Bumrah had a surgery done in 2023, could potential end his career prematurely.
"Look, I think Booms will be fine, but it's just that [workload] management [matters]," Bond said in a chat with ESPNCricinfo during the Champions Trophy 2025.

Bumrah is going through a stress-related back injury which he picked up in the fifth Test against Australia in away BGT series earlier in January. Cricket Sports

In a blow to Mumbai Indians, premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the first few games of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The development was announced by cricket news website ESPNCricinfo on Friday (Mar 14). He is expected to join the team in early April, which is also subject to clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. The IPL 2025 season starts on March 22 with the match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Also Read: Two-time ICC trophy winning all-rounder Axar Patel is new Delhi Capitals captain for IPL 2025 Bumrah is going through a stress-related back injury which he picked up in the fifth Test against Australia in away Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series earlier in January. He hasn't played any form of cricket since. The pacer, owing to the injury, was also excluded from India's Champions Trophy squad despite being named among 15-man provisional team. BCCI, however, decided not to include him in the final 15 after assessing him before the tournament squad announcement deadline. Bumrah is a vital cog in India's pace lineup. He played an important role in India winning the 2024 T20 World Cup in South Africa. His availability for the England Test tour, which follows the IPL 2025, will be crucial for India's chances. With two world cups in sight- T20 in 2026 and ODI in 2027 - taking care of Bumrah's fitness is of paramount importance for India. Recently, former MI bowling coach and NZ pacer Shane Bond also said that Bumrah has to be taken care of extremely well in order to extend his career. According to Bond, an injury in the same area where Bumrah had a surgery done in 2023, could potential end his career prematurely. "Look, I think Booms will be fine, but it's just that [workload] management [matters]," Bond said in a chat with ESPNCricinfo during the Champions Trophy 2025.

Jasprit Bumrah injury update: Blow for Mumbai Indians as pacer ruled out of first few IPL 2025 games

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals have announced T20 World Cup 2004 and Champions Trophy 2025-winning all-rounder Axar Patel as their new captain ahead of the 2025 season. The new IPL season begins on March 22 when defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Delhi was the only franchise who haven't announced their captain so far with all nine teams already settled on who will lead them in IPL 2025.
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"It is my absolute honour to captain the Delhi Capitals, and I'm deeply grateful to our owners and support staff for placing their faith in me," Axar said in a statement released by DC.
"I've grown as a cricketer and a human being during my time here at the Capitals, and I feel ready and confident to lead this side going forward.
"Our coaches and scouts have done a superb job at the mega-auction by putting together a balanced and robust squad, which has tremendous potential. We have plenty of leaders in the group, which is also very helpful for me, and I can't wait to join the team as we look forward to a very successful season for the Capitals, backed by the immense love and support of our fans," he added.
Previously, Axar had led&nbsp;DC in one off-game in the 2024 season but faced a loss in it. The 31-year-old has also led his team Gujarat in 23 domestic matches across formats, with most recent being in T20 tournament Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Axar is the most experienced player for DC with 82 games after Rishabh Pant's departure in the IPL auction in November last year. He scored 235 runs last season and took 11 wickets as well.
Axar's stocks have risen sharply in the national set-up in recent times, so much so that he now bats at number five for India in the ODIs. He is seen as a direct replacement for Ravindra Jadeja's left-arm orthodox bowling and useful batting down the order.

Delhi was the only franchise who haven't announced their captain so far, with all nine teams already settled on who will lead them in IPL 2025. Cricket Sports

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals have announced T20 World Cup 2004 and Champions Trophy 2025-winning all-rounder Axar Patel as their new captain ahead of the 2025 season. The new IPL season begins on March 22 when defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Delhi was the only franchise who haven't announced their captain so far with all nine teams already settled on who will lead them in IPL 2025. Also read: 'Unfair advantage if...,' Aussie great McGrath shuts down doubters after India's Champions Trophy win "It is my absolute honour to captain the Delhi Capitals, and I'm deeply grateful to our owners and support staff for placing their faith in me," Axar said in a statement released by DC. "I've grown as a cricketer and a human being during my time here at the Capitals, and I feel ready and confident to lead this side going forward. "Our coaches and scouts have done a superb job at the mega-auction by putting together a balanced and robust squad, which has tremendous potential. We have plenty of leaders in the group, which is also very helpful for me, and I can't wait to join the team as we look forward to a very successful season for the Capitals, backed by the immense love and support of our fans," he added. Previously, Axar had led DC in one off-game in the 2024 season but faced a loss in it. The 31-year-old has also led his team Gujarat in 23 domestic matches across formats, with most recent being in T20 tournament Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Axar is the most experienced player for DC with 82 games after Rishabh Pant's departure in the IPL auction in November last year. He scored 235 runs last season and took 11 wickets as well. Axar's stocks have risen sharply in the national set-up in recent times, so much so that he now bats at number five for India in the ODIs. He is seen as a direct replacement for Ravindra Jadeja's left-arm orthodox bowling and useful batting down the order.

IPL 2025: Two-time ICC trophy winning all-rounder Axar Patel is new Delhi Capitals captain

Former Australia great Glenn McGrath has dismissed the 'unfair advantage' talks regarding India playing all their matches in Dubai during the recently-concluded Champions Trophy 2025. India eventually won the title, their second ICC trophy in as many years after winning the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year.
"It is the way it is. India does not travel to Pakistan anymore. There was only one other thing &mdash; the matches had to be played to the conditions. They know how to play on spinning tracks. I do not think that they had an unfair advantage. It is like saying there is an unfair advantage if India play all their matches in India, if Australia play all their matches in Australia," said McGrath as reported by Times of India newspaper.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/there-will-be-grass-and-moisture-ex-india-batter-navjot-sidhu-worried-about-ipl-2025-read-why-8850579">'There will be grass and moisture': Ex-India batter Navjot Sidhu worried about IPL 2025 - READ WHY</a>
The former Aussie also praised India for playing well, especially spin, which has been India's shortcoming in the recent past.
"They were the team to beat and they played well. Virat Kohli came back to form, as did the other guys. Australia had their chances in the semifinal, obviously, we had a few of our bowlers who were out. The pitches took spin, and India played well," he added.
With the win, India became the only team in history with at least two trophies in each of the white-ball ICC events. They now have a total of seven ICC trophies - second most behind Australia's 10.
India's first ICC trophy came in 1983 when Kapil Dev led them to the maiden ODI World Cup. For their second ODI WC win, India had to wait 28 years until MS Dhoni won the 2011 edition. In 2002, India did get a Champions Trophy but it was shared with Sri Lanka.
In 2013 came India's next 50-over ICC tournament trophy, with Dhoni leading the team to Champions Trophy. In between, Dhoni also won a T20 World Cup in 2007. And it is now Rohit who won two back-to-back trophies - 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy.

Former Aussie bowler Glenn McGrath also praised India for playing well, especially spin, which has been India's shortcoming in the recent past. Cricket Sports

Former Australia great Glenn McGrath has dismissed the 'unfair advantage' talks regarding India playing all their matches in Dubai during the recently-concluded Champions Trophy 2025. India eventually won the title, their second ICC trophy in as many years after winning the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year. "It is the way it is. India does not travel to Pakistan anymore. There was only one other thing — the matches had to be played to the conditions. They know how to play on spinning tracks. I do not think that they had an unfair advantage. It is like saying there is an unfair advantage if India play all their matches in India, if Australia play all their matches in Australia," said McGrath as reported by Times of India newspaper. Also Read: 'There will be grass and moisture': Ex-India batter Navjot Sidhu worried about IPL 2025 - READ WHY The former Aussie also praised India for playing well, especially spin, which has been India's shortcoming in the recent past. "They were the team to beat and they played well. Virat Kohli came back to form, as did the other guys. Australia had their chances in the semifinal, obviously, we had a few of our bowlers who were out. The pitches took spin, and India played well," he added. With the win, India became the only team in history with at least two trophies in each of the white-ball ICC events. They now have a total of seven ICC trophies - second most behind Australia's 10. India's first ICC trophy came in 1983 when Kapil Dev led them to the maiden ODI World Cup. For their second ODI WC win, India had to wait 28 years until MS Dhoni won the 2011 edition. In 2002, India did get a Champions Trophy but it was shared with Sri Lanka. In 2013 came India's next 50-over ICC tournament trophy, with Dhoni leading the team to Champions Trophy. In between, Dhoni also won a T20 World Cup in 2007. And it is now Rohit who won two back-to-back trophies - 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy.

'Unfair advantage if...,' Aussie great McGrath shuts down doubters after India's Champions Trophy win

Mumbai Indians will bid for their second Women&rsquo;s Premier League (WPL) title after they beat Gujarat Giants by 47 runs in the Eliminator contest on Thursday (Mar 13). The contest at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai saw Mumbai Indians record the third-highest total in WPL history as they smashed 213/4 in 20 overs with Hayley Matthews (77) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (77) being the architects.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Mumbai Indians in final<o:p></o:p></h2>
Tasked to chase 214, Gujarat did not have the best start as they lost Beth Mooney (6) in the first over of their innings. Harleen Deol (8) and skipper Ash Gardner (8) soon followed the Australian as Gujarat lost wickets at consistent intervals in their innings. At the end of the powerplay Gujarat had already lost wickets and were 43/3.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Danielle Gibson (34) and Phoebe Litchfield (31) then stitched a partnership of 38 runs before the former was dismissed. Soon Litchfield also went back to the pavilion as the Orange Army lost their way in the chase.<o:p></o:p>
Bharti Fulmali showed little resistance later in the innings as she scored 30 off 20 but it was not enough to take the side home. Hayley Matthews&rsquo; 31/3 proved to be the difference-maker as Mumbai Indians restricted GG to 166.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/aussie-t20i-skipper-mitchell-marsh-declared-fit-for-ipl-2025-after-missing-out-champions-trophy-with-injury-8849892" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt lead the show<o:p></o:p></h2>
Mumbai made a positive start to their innings despite Yastika Bhatia&rsquo;s early wicket as Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt put together 133 runs for the second wicket. Both had the opportunity to score maiden WPL hundreds but missed out in the dying moments of the innings. Harmanpreet Kaur then scored a quickfire 36 off 12 balls that included four sixes and was on course for the fastest fifty before she was dismissed on the final ball of the innings. <o:p></o:p>
Mumbai now face Delhi in the final on Sunday in what will be a repeat of the WPL 2023 final where the latter will have the opportunity to exact revenge. Mumbai won the inaugural edition in 2023 while Delhi have lost both the finals they have played.<o:p></o:p>

Cricket, Sports: Mumbai Indians will bid for their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title after they beat Gujarat Giants by 47 runs in the Eliminator contest.

Mumbai Indians will bid for their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title after they beat Gujarat Giants by 47 runs in the Eliminator contest on Thursday (Mar 13). The contest at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai saw Mumbai Indians record the third-highest total in WPL history as they smashed 213/4 in 20 overs with Hayley Matthews (77) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (77) being the architects. Mumbai Indians in final Tasked to chase 214, Gujarat did not have the best start as they lost Beth Mooney (6) in the first over of their innings. Harleen Deol (8) and skipper Ash Gardner (8) soon followed the Australian as Gujarat lost wickets at consistent intervals in their innings. At the end of the powerplay Gujarat had already lost wickets and were 43/3. Danielle Gibson (34) and Phoebe Litchfield (31) then stitched a partnership of 38 runs before the former was dismissed. Soon Litchfield also went back to the pavilion as the Orange Army lost their way in the chase. Bharti Fulmali showed little resistance later in the innings as she scored 30 off 20 but it was not enough to take the side home. Hayley Matthews’ 31/3 proved to be the difference-maker as Mumbai Indians restricted GG to 166. ALSO READ | Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt lead the show Mumbai made a positive start to their innings despite Yastika Bhatia’s early wicket as Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt put together 133 runs for the second wicket. Both had the opportunity to score maiden WPL hundreds but missed out in the dying moments of the innings. Harmanpreet Kaur then scored a quickfire 36 off 12 balls that included four sixes and was on course for the fastest fifty before she was dismissed on the final ball of the innings. Mumbai now face Delhi in the final on Sunday in what will be a repeat of the WPL 2023 final where the latter will have the opportunity to exact revenge. Mumbai won the inaugural edition in 2023 while Delhi have lost both the finals they have played.

WPL 2025: Mumbai Indians down Gujarat Giants in Eliminator, to face Delhi Capitals in final

England white-ball vice-captain Harry Brook is set to be banned for two years from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he opted out of Delhi Capitals. Brook for the second consecutive season opted out of the IPL after he was purchased by Delhi Capitals in the November auctions. The ban means he won&rsquo;t be available for selection in the upcoming seasons while DC now search for other options.
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England Cricketer Harry Brook has been banned from playing in the IPL for the next two years after he withdrew himself after being selected in the auction: IPL Official
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1900196016806318444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote>

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<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Harry Brook banned for two years</h2>
"England Cricketer Harry Brook has been banned from playing in the IPL for the next two years after he withdrew himself after being selected in the auction," a senior IPL official said as quoted by ANI.
As stated by the IPL governing council before the mega auctions in November, a player cannot withdrew from the upcoming season unless an independent body approves the same for any miscellaneous reason. For Brook his withdrawal was not approved by the IPL council, meaning he will have to sit out of the upcoming two seasons.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/aussie-t20i-skipper-mitchell-marsh-declared-fit-for-ipl-2025-after-missing-out-champions-trophy-with-injury-8849892" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury</a>
Brook has been in fine form for England and recently scored a brilliant triple hundred against Pakistan in the Test format. He played a key role in England&rsquo;s 2022 T20 World Cup win and has been an all-format player for Brendon McCullum&rsquo;s side. The fine form had also seen him get promoted to vice-captain&rsquo;s role.
"I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL," Brook had said in a statement. "I apologise unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and their supporters."
"I love cricket. Ever since I was a young boy, I have dreamt of playing for my country, and I am extremely thankful to have the opportunity to play the game I love at this level,&rdquo; Brook added.

Sports, Cricket, IPL: England white-ball vice-captain Harry Brook is set to be banned for two years from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he opted out of Delhi Capitals.

England white-ball vice-captain Harry Brook is set to be banned for two years from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he opted out of Delhi Capitals. Brook for the second consecutive season opted out of the IPL after he was purchased by Delhi Capitals in the November auctions. The ban means he won’t be available for selection in the upcoming seasons while DC now search for other options. England Cricketer Harry Brook has been banned from playing in the IPL for the next two years after he withdrew himself after being selected in the auction: IPL Official — ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2025 Harry Brook banned for two years "England Cricketer Harry Brook has been banned from playing in the IPL for the next two years after he withdrew himself after being selected in the auction," a senior IPL official said as quoted by ANI. As stated by the IPL governing council before the mega auctions in November, a player cannot withdrew from the upcoming season unless an independent body approves the same for any miscellaneous reason. For Brook his withdrawal was not approved by the IPL council, meaning he will have to sit out of the upcoming two seasons. ALSO READ | Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury Brook has been in fine form for England and recently scored a brilliant triple hundred against Pakistan in the Test format. He played a key role in England’s 2022 T20 World Cup win and has been an all-format player for Brendon McCullum’s side. The fine form had also seen him get promoted to vice-captain’s role. "I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL," Brook had said in a statement. "I apologise unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and their supporters." "I love cricket. Ever since I was a young boy, I have dreamt of playing for my country, and I am extremely thankful to have the opportunity to play the game I love at this level,” Brook added.

England's Harry Brook banned for two years after opting out of IPL 2025 - Report

England speedster Mark Wood is to miss the upcoming India home series in June after he underwent a surgery on his knee. Wood, one of the reliable assets in the English bowling attack has taken the baton after the retirements of Stuart Broad and James Anderson. The veteran bowler is set to miss four months of action, meaning he will at least miss four matches of the series that starts on June 20. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Wood to miss India series?<o:p></o:p></h2>
"I am gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year. But I've got every confidence that I'll be back firing on all cylinders now that I've been able to sort my knee out," Wood said in an ECB statement.<o:p></o:p>
"I want to thank the surgeon, the doctors, staff, my England teammates and coaches for their support - and, of course, our fans. I can't wait to get back and contribute to what is going to be a huge 2025 for us as a team."<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/aussie-t20i-skipper-mitchell-marsh-declared-fit-for-ipl-2025-after-missing-out-champions-trophy-with-injury-8849892" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury</a>
India tour of England will be the first series for both sides in the 2025-27 cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC). Both India and England had fine starts to their WTC 2023-25 campaign before poor set of results saw them miss out. The series will have ramifications for both sides especially for India considering they were beaten 1-3 in their last away tour in Australia. <o:p></o:p>
For England, the series will be the start of their summer before they build for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India. England will be led by Ben Stokes and will be expecting to perform as they did when he took over the captaincy reign in 2022. England beat the likes of New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa but series defeats against India and then a 2-2 draw in Ashes in 2023.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: England speedster Mark Wood is all set to miss the upcoming India home series in June after he underwent a surgery on his knee.

England speedster Mark Wood is to miss the upcoming India home series in June after he underwent a surgery on his knee. Wood, one of the reliable assets in the English bowling attack has taken the baton after the retirements of Stuart Broad and James Anderson. The veteran bowler is set to miss four months of action, meaning he will at least miss four matches of the series that starts on June 20. Wood to miss India series? "I am gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year. But I've got every confidence that I'll be back firing on all cylinders now that I've been able to sort my knee out," Wood said in an ECB statement. "I want to thank the surgeon, the doctors, staff, my England teammates and coaches for their support - and, of course, our fans. I can't wait to get back and contribute to what is going to be a huge 2025 for us as a team." ALSO READ | Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury India tour of England will be the first series for both sides in the 2025-27 cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC). Both India and England had fine starts to their WTC 2023-25 campaign before poor set of results saw them miss out. The series will have ramifications for both sides especially for India considering they were beaten 1-3 in their last away tour in Australia. For England, the series will be the start of their summer before they build for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India. England will be led by Ben Stokes and will be expecting to perform as they did when he took over the captaincy reign in 2022. England beat the likes of New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa but series defeats against India and then a 2-2 draw in Ashes in 2023.

India tour of England 2025: Mark Wood to miss key series with knee injury, out of action for four months

Pakistan will look to bounce back from their disappointing Champions Trophy 2025 campaign as they take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series followed by ODI series. The series starting on Mar 16 comes a week after the Champions Trophy final defeat against India for New Zealand. But now the Kiwis will look to put behind the disappointment.
Ahead of the key series between New Zealand and Pakistan, here is all you need to know about the tournament including live streaming, time, date and other details.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When will the Pakistan tour of New Zealand begin?<o:p></o:p></h2>
Pakistan tour of New Zealand will begin on Sunday (Mar 16) with the white ball tour ending on April 5.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What will be the match timings of the New Zealand vs Pakistan Tests, according to Indian Standard Time (IST)?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The New Zealand vs Pakistan T20Is will begin at 6:45 AM IST and 2:15 PM local time while the ODIs will begin at 3:30 AM IST and 11:00 AM local time.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At what time will the toss take place during the New Zealand vs Pakistan series?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The New Zealand vs Pakistan toss will take place 30 minutes before the scheduled start of play, i.e. 6:45 AM IST for T20Is and 3:00 AM for ODIs.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When will the New Zealand vs Pakistan white-ball series begin?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The New Zealand vs Pakistan white-ball series will begin on Sunday (Mar 16).
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Which TV channels will telecast New Zealand vs Pakistan matches in India?</h2>
Sony Sports Network will ve broadcasting the New Zealand vs Pakistan matches in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">How to watch the live streaming of New Zealand vs Pakistan matches in India?<o:p></o:p></h2>
Sony LIV will livestream stream New Zealand vs Pakistan matches in India.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/aussie-t20i-skipper-mitchell-marsh-declared-fit-for-ipl-2025-after-missing-out-champions-trophy-with-injury-8849892" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Schedule for New Zealand vs Pakistan T20I Series<o:p></o:p></h2>
1st T20I &ndash; Sunday, March 16, Christchurch
2nd T20I &ndash; Tuesday, March 18, Dunedin
3rd T20I &ndash; Friday, March 21, Auckland
4th T20I &ndash; Sunday, March 23, Mount Maunganui
5th T20I &ndash; Wednesday, March 26, Wellington
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Schedule for New Zealand vs Pakistan ODI Series<o:p></o:p></h2>
1st ODI &ndash; Saturday, March 29, Napier
2nd ODI &ndash; Wednesday, April 2, Hamilton
3rd ODI &ndash; Saturday, April 5, Mount Maunganui

Cricket, Sports: Pakistan will look to bounce back from their disappointing CT 2025 campaign as they take New Zealand in a five-match T20I series followed by ODI series.

Pakistan will look to bounce back from their disappointing Champions Trophy 2025 campaign as they take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series followed by ODI series. The series starting on Mar 16 comes a week after the Champions Trophy final defeat against India for New Zealand. But now the Kiwis will look to put behind the disappointment. Ahead of the key series between New Zealand and Pakistan, here is all you need to know about the tournament including live streaming, time, date and other details. When will the Pakistan tour of New Zealand begin? Pakistan tour of New Zealand will begin on Sunday (Mar 16) with the white ball tour ending on April 5. What will be the match timings of the New Zealand vs Pakistan Tests, according to Indian Standard Time (IST)? The New Zealand vs Pakistan T20Is will begin at 6:45 AM IST and 2:15 PM local time while the ODIs will begin at 3:30 AM IST and 11:00 AM local time. At what time will the toss take place during the New Zealand vs Pakistan series? The New Zealand vs Pakistan toss will take place 30 minutes before the scheduled start of play, i.e. 6:45 AM IST for T20Is and 3:00 AM for ODIs. When will the New Zealand vs Pakistan white-ball series begin? The New Zealand vs Pakistan white-ball series will begin on Sunday (Mar 16). Which TV channels will telecast New Zealand vs Pakistan matches in India? Sony Sports Network will ve broadcasting the New Zealand vs Pakistan matches in India. How to watch the live streaming of New Zealand vs Pakistan matches in India? Sony LIV will livestream stream New Zealand vs Pakistan matches in India. ALSO READ | Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury Schedule for New Zealand vs Pakistan T20I Series 1st T20I – Sunday, March 16, Christchurch 2nd T20I – Tuesday, March 18, Dunedin 3rd T20I – Friday, March 21, Auckland 4th T20I – Sunday, March 23, Mount Maunganui 5th T20I – Wednesday, March 26, Wellington Schedule for New Zealand vs Pakistan ODI Series 1st ODI – Saturday, March 29, Napier 2nd ODI – Wednesday, April 2, Hamilton 3rd ODI – Saturday, April 5, Mount Maunganui

Pakistan tour of New Zealand: All you need to know about NZ vs PAK white-ball series, live streaming, date

Former India batter and BCCI chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar isn't too happy with Shreyas Iyer despite his recent exploits in the Champions Trophy 2025. Iyer was India's highest and overall second highest run-scorer in the tournament with 243 runs in five innings including two fifties.
The former India batter, however, believes that Iyer should have batted throughout the innings in the final against New Zealand which India eventually won by four wickets. After three quick wickets, Iyer scored a handy 48 and was out with India needing 69 more runs to win.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/its-the-number-one-project-its-at-the-top-australia-speedster-mitchell-starc-on-ipl-2025-kkr-dc-8850286">&lsquo;It&rsquo;s the number one project, it&rsquo;s at the top,&rsquo; Australia speedster Starc on IPL</a>
&ldquo;Iyer did very well but I am not happy [with] the way he got out in the final. He should have continued till the very end and finished the game. But happy to see him realise his potential," Vengsarkar told PTI.
Iyer, who came to bat at number 4 throughout the tournament, was the bridge between top-order and lower-order and his contributions at crunch situations definitely helped India win the tournament.
Vengsarkar also pointed out his dislike for promoting Axar Patel ahead of wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul.
"KL too played a few important innings at number six but [I am] still not convinced [about] Axar Patel batting ahead of him at five. The left-hand right-hand combination could be the only reason," he said.
Rahul was clinical with the bat and remained not out three times out of four he batted. He went on to score 140 runs in four innings at an average of 140 and a strike of 98 with a highest of 42 not out - which came in the final.
Rahul was preferred over Pant despite the left-hand batter and wicketkeeper being India's first choice in T20 World Cup 2024 and on Australia tour prior to the Champions Trophy.
Rahul's exploits in ODI World Cup 2023 in absence of Pant, however, made him the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs.

Iyer, who came to bat at number 4 throughout the tournament, was the bridge between top-order and lower-order and his contributions at crunch situations definitely helped India win the tournament. Cricket Sports

Former India batter and BCCI chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar isn't too happy with Shreyas Iyer despite his recent exploits in the Champions Trophy 2025. Iyer was India's highest and overall second highest run-scorer in the tournament with 243 runs in five innings including two fifties. The former India batter, however, believes that Iyer should have batted throughout the innings in the final against New Zealand which India eventually won by four wickets. After three quick wickets, Iyer scored a handy 48 and was out with India needing 69 more runs to win. Also Read: ‘It’s the number one project, it’s at the top,’ Australia speedster Starc on IPL “Iyer did very well but I am not happy [with] the way he got out in the final. He should have continued till the very end and finished the game. But happy to see him realise his potential," Vengsarkar told PTI. Iyer, who came to bat at number 4 throughout the tournament, was the bridge between top-order and lower-order and his contributions at crunch situations definitely helped India win the tournament. Vengsarkar also pointed out his dislike for promoting Axar Patel ahead of wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul. "KL too played a few important innings at number six but [I am] still not convinced [about] Axar Patel batting ahead of him at five. The left-hand right-hand combination could be the only reason," he said. Rahul was clinical with the bat and remained not out three times out of four he batted. He went on to score 140 runs in four innings at an average of 140 and a strike of 98 with a highest of 42 not out - which came in the final. Rahul was preferred over Pant despite the left-hand batter and wicketkeeper being India's first choice in T20 World Cup 2024 and on Australia tour prior to the Champions Trophy. Rahul's exploits in ODI World Cup 2023 in absence of Pant, however, made him the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs.

'243 Runs in 5 Matches': Ex-India batter not happy with Shreyas Iyer despite stellar Champions Trophy performance

Former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu is worried about the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The upcoming season starts March 22 when defending champs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Sidhu is worried that the England Test tour which follows the IPL 2025 will be a problem for the Indian batters.
&ldquo;The thing to be worried about is that the IPL is now coming up next. No one is ready to sit out the IPL. They will play the league and then all of a sudden comes the England tour. Conditions will shift from the North Pole to the South Pole. Completely different,&rdquo; said Sidhu as reported by news outlet the Indian Express.
Also&nbsp;Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-watch-rahul-dravid-joins-rajasthan-royals-camp-in-crutches-8850200">Rahul Dravid joins Rajasthan Royals camp in crutches</a>
&ldquo;Moreover, India&rsquo;s last Test series in England had started on August 4. This time, it is ending on August 2. The matches are in June and July. There will be grass and moisture and the air will be so heavy that the ball will gain ample movement. And then it will move more off the seam,&rdquo; he added.
India's recent record in Test cricket isn't very inspiring. They were on the way to make it to their third consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) Final in 2023-25 cycle when the catastrophe hit them.
They first lost a three-Test home series against New Zealand 0-3 before losing the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 1-3 in Australia.
While the white-ball team has managed to win two back-to-back ICC titles - 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy - it is the red-ball WTC Final win which has eluded them.
India were in the final of both WTC 2021 and WTC 2023 Final but lost to New Zealand and Australia, respectively. With England tour being their first series of next WTC cycle, India would be hoping to start on a positive note.

Former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu is worried that the England Test tour which follows the IPL 2025 will be a problem for the Indian batters. Cricket Sports

Former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu is worried about the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The upcoming season starts March 22 when defending champs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Sidhu is worried that the England Test tour which follows the IPL 2025 will be a problem for the Indian batters. “The thing to be worried about is that the IPL is now coming up next. No one is ready to sit out the IPL. They will play the league and then all of a sudden comes the England tour. Conditions will shift from the North Pole to the South Pole. Completely different,” said Sidhu as reported by news outlet the Indian Express. Also Watch: Rahul Dravid joins Rajasthan Royals camp in crutches “Moreover, India’s last Test series in England had started on August 4. This time, it is ending on August 2. The matches are in June and July. There will be grass and moisture and the air will be so heavy that the ball will gain ample movement. And then it will move more off the seam,” he added. India's recent record in Test cricket isn't very inspiring. They were on the way to make it to their third consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) Final in 2023-25 cycle when the catastrophe hit them. They first lost a three-Test home series against New Zealand 0-3 before losing the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 1-3 in Australia. While the white-ball team has managed to win two back-to-back ICC titles - 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy - it is the red-ball WTC Final win which has eluded them. India were in the final of both WTC 2021 and WTC 2023 Final but lost to New Zealand and Australia, respectively. With England tour being their first series of next WTC cycle, India would be hoping to start on a positive note.

'There will be grass and moisture': Ex-India batter Navjot Sidhu worried about IPL 2025 - READ WHY

At the 2024 mega auction, Australia speedster <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mitchell-starc" rel="dofollow">Mitchell Starc</a> was the most expensive purchase in IPL history, going for a whopping $2.8m (INR 24.75 crore) to Kolkata Knight Riders. After one year at the KKR, where he won his maiden IPL trophy, Starc moved to Delhi Capitals for the upcoming season for less than half the price (INR 11.75 crore). Speaking highly of the cash-rich league, Starc said the IPL is the number one project but has its cons too.
Starc played just 2 seasons of IPL to date, for RCB in 2014 and for KKR in 2024. With the 18th edition just on the horizon, Starc feels the rise of Indian cricket across formats is a testament to the magnitude of the Indian Premier League. Starc said India is the only country that can afford a T20I, an ODI and a Test team ready on the same day and still be competitive.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-felt-like-ipl-in-dubai-kamran-akmal-on-pakistan-no-show-in-final-8849799" rel="dofollow">&lsquo;Champions Trophy felt like IPL in Dubai,&rsquo; Kamran Akmal on Pakistan no-show in final</a>
&ldquo;I think they are probably the only nation that can have a Test team, a one-day team, and a T20 team play on the same day against Australia in the Test, England in the One-Dayer and South Africa in the T20I, and India will be competitive," Starc said during a YouTube channel 'FanaticsTV' chat. "No other country can do that.&rdquo;
<h2>What's a big no about IPL?</h2>
Speaking on how the IPL has shaped up Indian cricket, injecting confidence into players like never before, Starc said it&rsquo;s there for everyone to see how humongous this league is, with countless pros, but mentioned a big con, denying any talks of Indians having an advantage over players from the rest of the world.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rohit-sharma-has-no-reason-to-retire-ab-de-villiers-throws-weight-behind-indias-almost-most-successful-captain-8849565" rel="dofollow">&lsquo;He has no reason to retire,&rsquo; de Villiers throws weight behind Rohit, India&rsquo;s almost &lsquo;most successful captain&rsquo;</a>
"I am not sure if it's an advantage per se because as cricketers, we have got these opportunities to play all franchise (cricket) around the world (but) the Indian guys can only play in the IPL," said Starc.&nbsp;
"Obviously, it's the number one product, has got all the Indians playing, so much influx of international talent. It's at the top. There's no doubt that it's a huge tournament...But I don't think you can just sit on that because you have guys (players around the world) that play 5-6 different franchise leagues a year; so, they are still getting the exposure to world cricket.&nbsp;
"That (IPL) helps, it's a great tournament, but, obviously, you have got to have talent there; and the depth in Indian cricket (is huge)," he added.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-trophy-2025-mitchell-starc-pulls-out-in-another-major-blow-for-australia-steve-smith-to-lead-8712498" rel="dofollow">Starc opted out of the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025</a> in Pakistan for personal reasons; Australia, who got knocked out in the semis (against India), was also without six of their first-team players.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: After one year at the KKR, where he won his maiden IPL trophy, Starc moved to Delhi Capitals for the upcoming season for less than half a price.

At the 2024 mega auction, Australia speedster Mitchell Starc was the most expensive purchase in IPL history, going for a whopping $2.8m (INR 24.75 crore) to Kolkata Knight Riders. After one year at the KKR, where he won his maiden IPL trophy, Starc moved to Delhi Capitals for the upcoming season for less than half the price (INR 11.75 crore). Speaking highly of the cash-rich league, Starc said the IPL is the number one project but has its cons too. Starc played just 2 seasons of IPL to date, for RCB in 2014 and for KKR in 2024. With the 18th edition just on the horizon, Starc feels the rise of Indian cricket across formats is a testament to the magnitude of the Indian Premier League. Starc said India is the only country that can afford a T20I, an ODI and a Test team ready on the same day and still be competitive. Also read | ‘Champions Trophy felt like IPL in Dubai,’ Kamran Akmal on Pakistan no-show in final “I think they are probably the only nation that can have a Test team, a one-day team, and a T20 team play on the same day against Australia in the Test, England in the One-Dayer and South Africa in the T20I, and India will be competitive," Starc said during a YouTube channel 'FanaticsTV' chat. "No other country can do that.” What's a big no about IPL? Speaking on how the IPL has shaped up Indian cricket, injecting confidence into players like never before, Starc said it’s there for everyone to see how humongous this league is, with countless pros, but mentioned a big con, denying any talks of Indians having an advantage over players from the rest of the world. Also read | ‘He has no reason to retire,’ de Villiers throws weight behind Rohit, India’s almost ‘most successful captain’ "I am not sure if it's an advantage per se because as cricketers, we have got these opportunities to play all franchise (cricket) around the world (but) the Indian guys can only play in the IPL," said Starc. "Obviously, it's the number one product, has got all the Indians playing, so much influx of international talent. It's at the top. There's no doubt that it's a huge tournament...But I don't think you can just sit on that because you have guys (players around the world) that play 5-6 different franchise leagues a year; so, they are still getting the exposure to world cricket. "That (IPL) helps, it's a great tournament, but, obviously, you have got to have talent there; and the depth in Indian cricket (is huge)," he added. Meanwhile, Starc opted out of the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan for personal reasons; Australia, who got knocked out in the semis (against India), was also without six of their first-team players. (With inputs from agencies)

‘It’s the number one project, it’s at the top,’ Australia speedster Starc on IPL

Former India coach Rahul Dravid, who took on the job in the same capacity with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals, recently joined the pre-season camp in crutches. Dravid had injured his leg in a local cricket match in Bengaluru while playing alongside his younger son Anvay.
In a post shared by the Royals on social media, Dravid was seen on a golf-kart with his leg secured in a medical boot. The former cricketer then used crutches to move to the training area where he chatted with players including Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Have a look at the video below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
💗➡️🏡 <a href="https://t.co/kdmckJn4bz">pic.twitter.com/kdmckJn4bz</a>
&mdash; Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1900035019609117001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote>

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Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/aussie-t20i-skipper-mitchell-marsh-declared-fit-for-ipl-2025-after-missing-out-champions-trophy-with-injury-8849892">Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury</a>
Dravid returned to Royals after serving the Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) in various capacities including National Cricket Academy (NCA) head, U-19 coach and senior team coach.
He called time with India board after coaching the team to their first ICC title in 11 years with a victory in T20 World Cup 2024.
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Head Coach Rahul Dravid, who picked up an injury while playing Cricket in Bangalore, is recovering well and will join us today in Jaipur 💗 <a href="https://t.co/TW37tV5Isj">pic.twitter.com/TW37tV5Isj</a>
&mdash; Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1899744969038135609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>Sanju Samson still not over Buttler moving out from RR</h2>
Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson opened up about one of the toughest challenges he has faced&mdash;parting ways with explosive opener Jos Buttler ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Buttler, who joined the Royals in 2018, was a cornerstone of their batting lineup, scoring 3,098 runs in 83 matches at an impressive average of 41.84. However, ahead of the mega auction, Rajasthan decided against retaining the English star, opting to keep six other players instead. As a result, Buttler entered the auction pool, where Gujarat Titans secured him for over $1 million (₹15.75 crore).
Speaking to digital broadcaster Star, Samson expressed his deep bond with Buttler, whom he considers one of his closest friends.
Rajasthan Royals will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Rahul Dravid, who took on the job in same capacity with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals, recently joined the pre-season camp in crutches. Cricket Sports

Former India coach Rahul Dravid, who took on the job in the same capacity with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals, recently joined the pre-season camp in crutches. Dravid had injured his leg in a local cricket match in Bengaluru while playing alongside his younger son Anvay. In a post shared by the Royals on social media, Dravid was seen on a golf-kart with his leg secured in a medical boot. The former cricketer then used crutches to move to the training area where he chatted with players including Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Have a look at the video below: 💗➡️🏡 pic.twitter.com/kdmckJn4bz — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 13, 2025 Also Read: Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury Dravid returned to Royals after serving the Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) in various capacities including National Cricket Academy (NCA) head, U-19 coach and senior team coach. He called time with India board after coaching the team to their first ICC title in 11 years with a victory in T20 World Cup 2024. Head Coach Rahul Dravid, who picked up an injury while playing Cricket in Bangalore, is recovering well and will join us today in Jaipur 💗 pic.twitter.com/TW37tV5Isj — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 12, 2025 Sanju Samson still not over Buttler moving out from RR Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson opened up about one of the toughest challenges he has faced—parting ways with explosive opener Jos Buttler ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Buttler, who joined the Royals in 2018, was a cornerstone of their batting lineup, scoring 3,098 runs in 83 matches at an impressive average of 41.84. However, ahead of the mega auction, Rajasthan decided against retaining the English star, opting to keep six other players instead. As a result, Buttler entered the auction pool, where Gujarat Titans secured him for over $1 million (₹15.75 crore). Speaking to digital broadcaster Star, Samson expressed his deep bond with Buttler, whom he considers one of his closest friends. Rajasthan Royals will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

IPL 2025 | WATCH: Rahul Dravid joins Rajasthan Royals camp in crutches

Australia T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh has been cleared to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season which starts March 22. Marsh is coming back to competitive cricket for the first time since January after a back injury. Notably, Marsh had missed out on recently-completed Champions Trophy 2025 due to the injury. He will, however, only play as a batter.
Marsh's availability, as confirmed by the ESPNCricinfo, will be a huge boost for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The Aussie all-rounder was picked for US $400,000 at the IPL auction in November last year. Marsh being fit offers good news to LSG which recently suffered a blow after pacer Mayank Yadav was ruled out for a few initial games.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-rajasthan-royals-captain-sanju-samson-still-not-over-8847280">IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson still not over...</a>
At LSG, Marsh will reunite with his former Australia and Big Bash League (BBL) side Perth Scorchers' coach Justin Langer who is heading into the second season with the Lucknow-based franchise. Langer replaced India coach Gautam Gambhir at LSG last season when the latter moved to KKR and won them the season as mentor.
Apart from Marsh, other Aussie players namely Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are also set to take part in the IPL. All three of them missed out the Champions Trophy just like Marsh because of injury and personal reasons.
The non-availability of big stars in the Champions Trophy costed Australia dearly as they were sent packing in the semi-final by eventual winners India.
IPL 2025 starts with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 22.
LSG play their first match on March 24 against Delhi Capitals (DC) where Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul will face their old franchises after the auction swap.
While Pant has been confirmed as the LSG captain, DC are the only franchise in league who have not named their captain for the upcoming season yet.&nbsp;

At LSG, Marsh will reunite with his former Australia and BBL side Perth Scorchers' coach Justin Langer who is heading into the second season with the Lucknow-based franchise. Cricket Sports

Australia T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh has been cleared to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season which starts March 22. Marsh is coming back to competitive cricket for the first time since January after a back injury. Notably, Marsh had missed out on recently-completed Champions Trophy 2025 due to the injury. He will, however, only play as a batter. Marsh's availability, as confirmed by the ESPNCricinfo, will be a huge boost for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The Aussie all-rounder was picked for US $400,000 at the IPL auction in November last year. Marsh being fit offers good news to LSG which recently suffered a blow after pacer Mayank Yadav was ruled out for a few initial games. Also Read: IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson still not over... At LSG, Marsh will reunite with his former Australia and Big Bash League (BBL) side Perth Scorchers' coach Justin Langer who is heading into the second season with the Lucknow-based franchise. Langer replaced India coach Gautam Gambhir at LSG last season when the latter moved to KKR and won them the season as mentor. Apart from Marsh, other Aussie players namely Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are also set to take part in the IPL. All three of them missed out the Champions Trophy just like Marsh because of injury and personal reasons. The non-availability of big stars in the Champions Trophy costed Australia dearly as they were sent packing in the semi-final by eventual winners India. IPL 2025 starts with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 22. LSG play their first match on March 24 against Delhi Capitals (DC) where Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul will face their old franchises after the auction swap. While Pant has been confirmed as the LSG captain, DC are the only franchise in league who have not named their captain for the upcoming season yet.

Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury

Pakistan hosted the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025, but neither did they make it to the finale, nor did anyone from the PCB attend the final-game ceremony in Dubai - the venue for the summit clash between India and New Zealand. With embarrassment written all over it, several former stars, including ex-gloveman Kamran Akmal, spoke in rage, commenting that it never felt like Pakistan staged this event; instead, it looked like an IPL in Dubai.
Also read | &lsquo;Pakistan Cricket continues to shoot itself in its foot,&rsquo; says former coach Micky Arthur
The BCCI denied sending its team across the border for the eight-team tournament due to security concerns, later persuading the apex body to convince the host board (the PCB) to accept the hybrid model, which they previously did during the 2023 Asia Cup, to confirm India&rsquo;s participation. After initial refusals to do so, the PCB agreed to it; however, they did put some stipulations, which the Indian board had to accept in revert.
Meanwhile, during the closing presentation ceremony on Sunday (March 9) no PCB representative was present at the podium, raising questions about the panel selection by the ICC. Though the PCB wrote to the ICC seeking official word over the exclusion of their officials from the podium, Kamran strongly criticised this, saying the ICC showed the mirror to Pakistan (as to) where they stand in international cricket.
&ldquo;The ICC showed us the mirror. The tournament&rsquo;s director (Sumair) was there. He was available, and why wasn&rsquo;t he in the ceremony? It is because we don&rsquo;t deserve to be there. We are not playing good cricket. Minnow teams have shown us the mirror. No one discussed how Pakistan hosted the tournament. If we play such cricket, we will be treated like this. If you play for yourself, there will be no respect,&rdquo; Akmal said on his YouTube channel.
Also read | How Rohit's Indian Team became almost &lsquo;Invincible like Arsenal of 03/04' in Champions Trophy triumph
Besides, even though the BCCI president Roger Binny, ICC chair Jay Shah, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and New Zealand Cricket&rsquo;s CEO Roger Twose were present to hand out the awards, Sumair Ahmed, the PCB&rsquo;s chief operating officer, who was also present, was nowhere to be seen.
<h2>&lsquo;Felt like an IPL event in Dubai&rsquo;</h2>
Kamran argued that Pakistan was the designated host of this tournament, and therefore they should have entertained the crowd, adding, let alone the PCB representatives, popular singer Atif Aslam, who produced the anthem, should have been there entertaining everyone during the mid-innings.
"It was our event; we hosted it. It should&rsquo;ve been our entertainers who should&rsquo;ve gone to perform in the mid-innings break, too. Atif Aslam made the anthem, he should&rsquo;ve gone there. There was no representation from our country. It felt like it was an IPL event, the way they organised it in Dubai,&rdquo; Akmal added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Even though BCCI officials, ICC chairman and New Zealand Cricket’s CEO Roger Twose attended the presentation ceremony, PCB's Sumair Ahmed was nowhere to be seen.

Pakistan hosted the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025, but neither did they make it to the finale, nor did anyone from the PCB attend the final-game ceremony in Dubai - the venue for the summit clash between India and New Zealand. With embarrassment written all over it, several former stars, including ex-gloveman Kamran Akmal, spoke in rage, commenting that it never felt like Pakistan staged this event; instead, it looked like an IPL in Dubai. Also read | ‘Pakistan Cricket continues to shoot itself in its foot,’ says former coach Micky Arthur The BCCI denied sending its team across the border for the eight-team tournament due to security concerns, later persuading the apex body to convince the host board (the PCB) to accept the hybrid model, which they previously did during the 2023 Asia Cup, to confirm India’s participation. After initial refusals to do so, the PCB agreed to it; however, they did put some stipulations, which the Indian board had to accept in revert. Meanwhile, during the closing presentation ceremony on Sunday (March 9) no PCB representative was present at the podium, raising questions about the panel selection by the ICC. Though the PCB wrote to the ICC seeking official word over the exclusion of their officials from the podium, Kamran strongly criticised this, saying the ICC showed the mirror to Pakistan (as to) where they stand in international cricket. “The ICC showed us the mirror. The tournament’s director (Sumair) was there. He was available, and why wasn’t he in the ceremony? It is because we don’t deserve to be there. We are not playing good cricket. Minnow teams have shown us the mirror. No one discussed how Pakistan hosted the tournament. If we play such cricket, we will be treated like this. If you play for yourself, there will be no respect,” Akmal said on his YouTube channel. Also read | How Rohit's Indian Team became almost ‘Invincible like Arsenal of 03/04' in Champions Trophy triumph Besides, even though the BCCI president Roger Binny, ICC chair Jay Shah, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and New Zealand Cricket’s CEO Roger Twose were present to hand out the awards, Sumair Ahmed, the PCB’s chief operating officer, who was also present, was nowhere to be seen. ‘Felt like an IPL event in Dubai’ Kamran argued that Pakistan was the designated host of this tournament, and therefore they should have entertained the crowd, adding, let alone the PCB representatives, popular singer Atif Aslam, who produced the anthem, should have been there entertaining everyone during the mid-innings. "It was our event; we hosted it. It should’ve been our entertainers who should’ve gone to perform in the mid-innings break, too. Atif Aslam made the anthem, he should’ve gone there. There was no representation from our country. It felt like it was an IPL event, the way they organised it in Dubai,” Akmal added. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Champions Trophy felt like IPL in Dubai,’ Kamran Akmal on Pakistan no-show in final

India ODI captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rohit-sharma-dismisses-retirement-rumours-after-dubais-champions-trophy-showdown-8837705" rel="dofollow">Rohit Sharma squashed all talk of his potential retirement rumours</a> after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai, saying he is going nowhere. Rohit, 37, helped India win its third ICC Champions Trophy title, becoming the most successful team in the competition&rsquo;s history. However, amid all the talks around him hanging his boots, he received support from a star player from a faraway land,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ab-de-villiers" rel="dofollow">AB de Villiers</a>.
De Villiers, who played against Rohit for most of his career, hailed him for his leadership skills and finding his lost touch. Rohit was out of form in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy final, which India won by beating New Zealand by four wickets. However, on the D-day, he was the one who stepped up and scored a match-winning 76, helping India complete the run chase.
The Protean legend said should Rohit continue to grow at this rate regarding his winning percentage as a captain, he will soon go down in history as one of the greatest captains.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/it-is-too-far-india-skipper-rohit-sharma-opens-up-on-playing-2027-odi-world-cup-8846074" rel="dofollow">'It's too far': India skipper Rohit Sharma opens up on playing 2027 ODI World Cup</a>
&ldquo;Compared to other captains, look at Rohit&rsquo;s win percentage, it&rsquo;s almost 74%, which is substantially more than any other captain of the past. If he keeps going, he will go down as one of the best ODI captains of all time. Rohit has also said he is not retiring and has requested that rumours be stopped spreading,&rdquo; de Villers said on his YouTube channel, as quoted by The Indian Express.
Rohit&rsquo;s numbers in ODIs speak for itself. Even on a tricky Dubai pitch where everyone struggled to find runs, Rohit kept the run rate intact at the top, completing a 107-run stand for the first wicket with Shubman Gill, putting India&rsquo;s nose ahead.
Commenting on his ability to score runs when the chips are down, de Villiers said,&nbsp;&ldquo;Why would he retire? With that kind of record, not only as captain but also as a batter. That 76 in the final, giving India a fantastic start, laying the foundation for success and leading from the front when the pressure was at its peak&rdquo;.&nbsp;
<h2>No need to retire</h2>
Rohit&rsquo;s numbers inside the Powerplay overs have risen since 2022, putting him in the greats category. AB said Rohit continues to evolve with time, stamping his authority as one of white-ball&rsquo;s greatest batters.
&ldquo;Rohit Sharma has got no reason to retire. No reason to take any criticism whatsoever. His record speaks for himself. Not only that, but he has also sort of transformed his game.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-how-kkrs-venky-mysore-found-a-captain-in-lost-jewel-ajinkya-rahane-venkatesh-iyer-8849149" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: How KKR&rsquo;s Venky Mysore found a captain in lost jewel Ajinkya Rahane</a>
&ldquo;If we have a look at his strike rate in the Powerplay, it was quite low for an opening batter in the Powerplay, but since 2022, his strike rate has rose to 115 in the first Powerplay, and that&rsquo;s the difference between good and great. It&rsquo;s transforming your own game, and it never stops. You have always something to learn and something to do better,&rdquo; he added.
Meanwhile, Rohit will ply his trade for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting March 22.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: AB said should Rohit continue to grow at this rate regarding his winning percentage as a captain, he will soon go down in history as one of the greatest captains.

India ODI captain Rohit Sharma squashed all talk of his potential retirement rumours after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai, saying he is going nowhere. Rohit, 37, helped India win its third ICC Champions Trophy title, becoming the most successful team in the competition’s history. However, amid all the talks around him hanging his boots, he received support from a star player from a faraway land, AB de Villiers. De Villiers, who played against Rohit for most of his career, hailed him for his leadership skills and finding his lost touch. Rohit was out of form in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy final, which India won by beating New Zealand by four wickets. However, on the D-day, he was the one who stepped up and scored a match-winning 76, helping India complete the run chase. The Protean legend said should Rohit continue to grow at this rate regarding his winning percentage as a captain, he will soon go down in history as one of the greatest captains. Also read | 'It's too far': India skipper Rohit Sharma opens up on playing 2027 ODI World Cup “Compared to other captains, look at Rohit’s win percentage, it’s almost 74%, which is substantially more than any other captain of the past. If he keeps going, he will go down as one of the best ODI captains of all time. Rohit has also said he is not retiring and has requested that rumours be stopped spreading,” de Villers said on his YouTube channel, as quoted by The Indian Express. Rohit’s numbers in ODIs speak for itself. Even on a tricky Dubai pitch where everyone struggled to find runs, Rohit kept the run rate intact at the top, completing a 107-run stand for the first wicket with Shubman Gill, putting India’s nose ahead. Commenting on his ability to score runs when the chips are down, de Villiers said, “Why would he retire? With that kind of record, not only as captain but also as a batter. That 76 in the final, giving India a fantastic start, laying the foundation for success and leading from the front when the pressure was at its peak”. No need to retire Rohit’s numbers inside the Powerplay overs have risen since 2022, putting him in the greats category. AB said Rohit continues to evolve with time, stamping his authority as one of white-ball’s greatest batters. “Rohit Sharma has got no reason to retire. No reason to take any criticism whatsoever. His record speaks for himself. Not only that, but he has also sort of transformed his game. Also read | IPL 2025: How KKR’s Venky Mysore found a captain in lost jewel Ajinkya Rahane “If we have a look at his strike rate in the Powerplay, it was quite low for an opening batter in the Powerplay, but since 2022, his strike rate has rose to 115 in the first Powerplay, and that’s the difference between good and great. It’s transforming your own game, and it never stops. You have always something to learn and something to do better,” he added. Meanwhile, Rohit will ply his trade for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting March 22. (With inputs from agencies)

‘He has no reason to retire,’ de Villiers throws weight behind Rohit, India’s almost ‘most successful captain’

Defending <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL</a> champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have appointed batting great <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane" rel="dofollow">Ajinkya Rahane</a> as their captain for the upcoming season starting March 22. Though Rahane was a last-minute buy at the 2025 mega auction, he leapfrogged another contender, Venkatesh Iyer, for KKR&rsquo;s captaincy, with the franchise&rsquo;s CEO Venky Mysore explaining what helped him find a leader in India&rsquo;s lost jewel Rahane.
Rahane is a Test great, having played, won and even captained India in several famous outings over the years; however, after a poor run in the lead-up to the 2023 WTC Final, where he topped scored across both innings, Rahane lost his place to youngsters in the Test side.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-rajasthan-royals-captain-sanju-samson-still-not-over-8847280" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson still not over...</a>
In the IPL, Rahane featured for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for two seasons before this, winning the 2023 one before switching bases to KKR, for whom he played previously in 2022.
Meanwhile, Iyer (bought for a whopping $2.3 million (INR 23.75 crore) played a handy role in helping KKR lift its third IPL last year and was the frontrunner for KKR&rsquo;s captaincy but missed the bus on the experience ground.
"IPL is quite an intense tournament," Mysore said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo.
"Clearly, we think very well of Venkatesh Iyer, but at the same time, it [captaincy] is taxing on a youngster. We have seen lots of people having lots of challenges with it [handling captaincy] as they go forward. It takes a very steady hand, takes a lot of maturity and experience, which we felt Ajinkya brings with him,&rdquo; he continued.
<h2>Why Rahane?</h2>
Last year, Shreyas Iyer was the KKR captain, and despite leading them to an IPL title, he chose against getting retained by them, thus entering the auction pool, where Punjab Kings (PBKS) purchased him for a whooping INR 26 crore. On the other side, Rahane went unsold on day one of the mega auction but was the first name on day two, with KKR bagging his service for INR 1.5 crore.
Mysore said for what Rahane brings to the table with that wealth of experience, he stands out to lead the team heading into the new season.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/give-him-a-break-ex-mi-bowling-coach-says-another-injury-in-the-same-spot-could-be-career-ender-for-bumrah-8845841" rel="dofollow">'Give him a break': Ex-MI bowling coach says 'another injury in the same spot could be career-ender' for Bumrah</a>
"He has played 185 IPL games, 200 international games across formats," Mysore said. "He has led India, led Mumbai in domestic, he's led in IPL. And he has played from season one of IPL. All that is massive. There should be no surprise at all [on appointing Rahane as captain].
Mysore explains the various other factors that they considered while opting for Rahane.
&ldquo;Captaincy cannot be underestimated. This is going to be my 15th season, so I have seen a lot. It is not only about what you do on the field. There's a lot of [other] stuff when it comes to IPL, including dealing with media, and there will be expectations in terms of the captain.&nbsp;
&ldquo;At the same time, it is a new cycle, there is diversity in the team, if you have to be a successful captain, you have to invest in building relationships with everybody so that you know how to get the best out of everyone. And then there's preparatory stuff in terms of camps, bowlers' meetings, batters' meetings, interaction with coaches - that's a lot to take in. From that perspective, we are lucky we have got Ajinkya, who will be terrific for us. Not only as a captain, of which there's no doubt but also as a batsman. He has scored tons of runs,&rdquo; he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: In the IPL, Rahane featured for CSK for two seasons before this, winning the 2023 one before switching bases to KKR, for whom he played previously in 2022.

Defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have appointed batting great Ajinkya Rahane as their captain for the upcoming season starting March 22. Though Rahane was a last-minute buy at the 2025 mega auction, he leapfrogged another contender, Venkatesh Iyer, for KKR’s captaincy, with the franchise’s CEO Venky Mysore explaining what helped him find a leader in India’s lost jewel Rahane. Rahane is a Test great, having played, won and even captained India in several famous outings over the years; however, after a poor run in the lead-up to the 2023 WTC Final, where he topped scored across both innings, Rahane lost his place to youngsters in the Test side. Also read | IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson still not over... In the IPL, Rahane featured for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for two seasons before this, winning the 2023 one before switching bases to KKR, for whom he played previously in 2022. Meanwhile, Iyer (bought for a whopping $2.3 million (INR 23.75 crore) played a handy role in helping KKR lift its third IPL last year and was the frontrunner for KKR’s captaincy but missed the bus on the experience ground. "IPL is quite an intense tournament," Mysore said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo. "Clearly, we think very well of Venkatesh Iyer, but at the same time, it [captaincy] is taxing on a youngster. We have seen lots of people having lots of challenges with it [handling captaincy] as they go forward. It takes a very steady hand, takes a lot of maturity and experience, which we felt Ajinkya brings with him,” he continued. Why Rahane? Last year, Shreyas Iyer was the KKR captain, and despite leading them to an IPL title, he chose against getting retained by them, thus entering the auction pool, where Punjab Kings (PBKS) purchased him for a whooping INR 26 crore. On the other side, Rahane went unsold on day one of the mega auction but was the first name on day two, with KKR bagging his service for INR 1.5 crore. Mysore said for what Rahane brings to the table with that wealth of experience, he stands out to lead the team heading into the new season. Also read | 'Give him a break': Ex-MI bowling coach says 'another injury in the same spot could be career-ender' for Bumrah "He has played 185 IPL games, 200 international games across formats," Mysore said. "He has led India, led Mumbai in domestic, he's led in IPL. And he has played from season one of IPL. All that is massive. There should be no surprise at all [on appointing Rahane as captain]. Mysore explains the various other factors that they considered while opting for Rahane. “Captaincy cannot be underestimated. This is going to be my 15th season, so I have seen a lot. It is not only about what you do on the field. There's a lot of [other] stuff when it comes to IPL, including dealing with media, and there will be expectations in terms of the captain. “At the same time, it is a new cycle, there is diversity in the team, if you have to be a successful captain, you have to invest in building relationships with everybody so that you know how to get the best out of everyone. And then there's preparatory stuff in terms of camps, bowlers' meetings, batters' meetings, interaction with coaches - that's a lot to take in. From that perspective, we are lucky we have got Ajinkya, who will be terrific for us. Not only as a captain, of which there's no doubt but also as a batsman. He has scored tons of runs,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: How KKR’s Venky Mysore found a captain in lost jewel Ajinkya Rahane

Everyone has been targeting Pakistan Cricket lately. After former coach Jason Gillespie slammed the current selector and head coach Aaqib Javed by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/aaqib-javed-is-a-clown-jason-gillespie-slams-pcb-coach-for-lying-after-pakistans-champions-trophy-exit-8821587" rel="dofollow">calling him a clown</a>, another ex-team coach, Mickey Arthur, joined the queue, bashing their cricket left, right and centre.
Pakistan hosted the recently concluded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy 2025</a>, their first home ICC event in 29 years. They virtually exited the first round just six days into the tournament after losing to New Zealand and India before a washout against Bangladesh later confirmed their elimination from the home event. What&rsquo;s worse? Reports of fallouts within the team and the management began doing rounds on social media, with everyone pouncing on it to bash them.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/pcb-slashes-75-of-players-match-fee-for-national-t20-cup-8847978" rel="dofollow">PCB slashes 75% of player's match fee for National T20 Cup</a>
Arthur, who coached Pakistan to its maiden Champions Trophy title in 2017 when they beat India in a one-sided final, said Pakistan is its own enemy, and they continue to shoot in its foot every time. Backing and praising Gillespie as a coach, who had to cut short his ties with the PCB just six months into his job, Arthur said,&nbsp;&ldquo;I love this quote, to be brutally honest. Jason Gillespie is a wonderful coach and wonderful man. Pakistan cricket just continues to shoot itself in the foot. It is its worst enemy.&rdquo;
Arthur explained how mismanagement within the board created insecurity among the players and the backroom staff and how disappointing it was for him to watch it unfold.&nbsp;
&ldquo;There are so many good players; they&rsquo;ve got the resources now; there's so much young talent. They have incredible skills. And yet, it's still so chaotic. It's really disappointing to see,&rdquo; he said in a chat with talkSPORT.&nbsp;
<h2>Arthur backs Gillespie</h2>
Following Pakistan&rsquo;s early exit from the tournament, head coach Javed said too many changes within the top management caused low morale that led to poor performances in such a high-stakes tournament.
In response, Gillespie called him a clown for bluntly lying to everyone. Gillespie accused Javed of doing everything (in his power) to remove Gary Kirsten and him from their positions (when they were the coaches) and take over that spot, which he eventually did.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/icc-stands-for-the-indian-cricket-board-legendary-wi-bowler-andy-roberts-tears-apart-apex-body-8847730" rel="dofollow">'ICC stands for the Indian Cricket Board': Legendary WI bowler Andy Roberts tears apart apex body</a>
Echoing the same lines, Arthur said Pakistan Cricket fails to take things forward despite having every resource.
&ldquo;They had got some really good coaches who could take them forward. But then that machine that works in Pakistan just keeps undermining, and agendas are driven in the media,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;It's a jungle out there, and I feel desperately sorry for Gary and Jason. There's no doubt in my mind that they were undermined&hellip; it's to the detriment of the players and ultimately to the detriment of Pakistan cricket.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Arthur explained how mismanagement within the board created insecurity among the players and how disappointing it was for him to watch it unfold.

Everyone has been targeting Pakistan Cricket lately. After former coach Jason Gillespie slammed the current selector and head coach Aaqib Javed by calling him a clown, another ex-team coach, Mickey Arthur, joined the queue, bashing their cricket left, right and centre. Pakistan hosted the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025, their first home ICC event in 29 years. They virtually exited the first round just six days into the tournament after losing to New Zealand and India before a washout against Bangladesh later confirmed their elimination from the home event. What’s worse? Reports of fallouts within the team and the management began doing rounds on social media, with everyone pouncing on it to bash them. Also read | PCB slashes 75% of player's match fee for National T20 Cup Arthur, who coached Pakistan to its maiden Champions Trophy title in 2017 when they beat India in a one-sided final, said Pakistan is its own enemy, and they continue to shoot in its foot every time. Backing and praising Gillespie as a coach, who had to cut short his ties with the PCB just six months into his job, Arthur said, “I love this quote, to be brutally honest. Jason Gillespie is a wonderful coach and wonderful man. Pakistan cricket just continues to shoot itself in the foot. It is its worst enemy.” Arthur explained how mismanagement within the board created insecurity among the players and the backroom staff and how disappointing it was for him to watch it unfold. “There are so many good players; they’ve got the resources now; there's so much young talent. They have incredible skills. And yet, it's still so chaotic. It's really disappointing to see,” he said in a chat with talkSPORT. Arthur backs Gillespie Following Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament, head coach Javed said too many changes within the top management caused low morale that led to poor performances in such a high-stakes tournament. In response, Gillespie called him a clown for bluntly lying to everyone. Gillespie accused Javed of doing everything (in his power) to remove Gary Kirsten and him from their positions (when they were the coaches) and take over that spot, which he eventually did. Also read | 'ICC stands for the Indian Cricket Board': Legendary WI bowler Andy Roberts tears apart apex body Echoing the same lines, Arthur said Pakistan Cricket fails to take things forward despite having every resource. “They had got some really good coaches who could take them forward. But then that machine that works in Pakistan just keeps undermining, and agendas are driven in the media,” he said. “It's a jungle out there, and I feel desperately sorry for Gary and Jason. There's no doubt in my mind that they were undermined… it's to the detriment of the players and ultimately to the detriment of Pakistan cricket.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘Pakistan Cricket continues to shoot itself in its foot,’ says former coach Micky Arthur

Bangladesh&rsquo;s veteran all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mahmudullah">Mahmudullah</a> has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable career spanning over 17 years. The 39-year-old made the announcement on social media, expressing gratitude to his teammates, coaches, and fans who supported him throughout his journey.
&ldquo;I have decided to retire from international cricket,&rdquo; Mahmudullah posted on Facebook. &ldquo;I would like to thank all of my teammates, coaches &amp; especially my fans who have always supported me. A big thank you to my parents, my in-laws&mdash;especially my father-in-law&mdash;and most importantly, my brother Emdad Ullah, who has been my coach and mentor since childhood.&rdquo;
He also acknowledged his wife and children, calling them his 'support system through thick &amp; thin'. In a heartfelt message, he mentioned his son Raeid, who will miss seeing him in Bangladesh&rsquo;s red and green jersey.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/pcb-slashes-75-of-players-match-fee-for-national-t20-cup-8847978">PCB slashes 75% of player's match fee for National T20 Cup</a>
Mahmudullah&rsquo;s decision was not entirely unexpected. He had previously informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that he would not seek a central contract beyond February 2025. His retirement follows that of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mushfiqur-rahim" rel="dofollow">Mushfiqur Rahim</a>, as both cricketers faced scrutiny over their places in the national team after Bangladesh&rsquo;s qualification for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
<h2>A stellar career</h2>
A stalwart of Bangladesh cricket, Mahmudullah was a dependable middle-order batter and a handy off-spinner. He played 239 ODIs, 50 Tests, and 141 T20Is, playing crucial roles in numerous victories. He remains Bangladesh&rsquo;s fourth-highest run-getter in ODIs, amassing 5,689 runs at an average of 36.46, including four centuries&mdash;all in ICC tournaments.
Mahmudullah made history as Bangladesh&rsquo;s only cricketer to score three centuries in ODI World Cups. His back-to-back tons in the 2015 edition against England and New Zealand helped Bangladesh secure a historic quarterfinal spot. He added another century in the 2017 Champions Trophy against New Zealand and a fourth in the 2023 ODI World Cup against South Africa, further solidifying his legacy on the grandest stage.
His international journey began in 2007 as a lower-order all-rounder. A turning point came in the 2011 World Cup when he played a crucial role in Bangladesh&rsquo;s famous win over England. Over the years, he transformed into a key middle-order batter, producing memorable knocks, including his 223-run stand with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shakib-al-hasan">Shakib Al Hasan</a> against New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy.
Mahmudullah retired from Test cricket in 2021 and T20Is in 2024. His departure marks the end of Bangladesh&rsquo;s golden generation, which included Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mashrafe Mortaza.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: The 39-year-old made the announcement on social media, expressing gratitude to his teammates, coaches, and fans who supported him throughout his journey

Bangladesh’s veteran all-rounder Mahmudullah has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable career spanning over 17 years. The 39-year-old made the announcement on social media, expressing gratitude to his teammates, coaches, and fans who supported him throughout his journey. “I have decided to retire from international cricket,” Mahmudullah posted on Facebook. “I would like to thank all of my teammates, coaches & especially my fans who have always supported me. A big thank you to my parents, my in-laws—especially my father-in-law—and most importantly, my brother Emdad Ullah, who has been my coach and mentor since childhood.” He also acknowledged his wife and children, calling them his 'support system through thick & thin'. In a heartfelt message, he mentioned his son Raeid, who will miss seeing him in Bangladesh’s red and green jersey. Also Read: PCB slashes 75% of player's match fee for National T20 Cup Mahmudullah’s decision was not entirely unexpected. He had previously informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that he would not seek a central contract beyond February 2025. His retirement follows that of Mushfiqur Rahim, as both cricketers faced scrutiny over their places in the national team after Bangladesh’s qualification for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. A stellar career A stalwart of Bangladesh cricket, Mahmudullah was a dependable middle-order batter and a handy off-spinner. He played 239 ODIs, 50 Tests, and 141 T20Is, playing crucial roles in numerous victories. He remains Bangladesh’s fourth-highest run-getter in ODIs, amassing 5,689 runs at an average of 36.46, including four centuries—all in ICC tournaments. Mahmudullah made history as Bangladesh’s only cricketer to score three centuries in ODI World Cups. His back-to-back tons in the 2015 edition against England and New Zealand helped Bangladesh secure a historic quarterfinal spot. He added another century in the 2017 Champions Trophy against New Zealand and a fourth in the 2023 ODI World Cup against South Africa, further solidifying his legacy on the grandest stage. His international journey began in 2007 as a lower-order all-rounder. A turning point came in the 2011 World Cup when he played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s famous win over England. Over the years, he transformed into a key middle-order batter, producing memorable knocks, including his 223-run stand with Shakib Al Hasan against New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy. Mahmudullah retired from Test cricket in 2021 and T20Is in 2024. His departure marks the end of Bangladesh’s golden generation, which included Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mashrafe Mortaza. (With inputs from agencies)

Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah announces retirement from international cricket

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pakistan-cricket-board">Pakistan Cricket Board</a> (PCB) has significantly reduced the match fees for players participating in the upcoming National T20 Cup, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Following the latest cut, players will now receive a match fee of PKR 10,000, marking a drastic 75% drop from the previous edition, where they earned PKR 40,000 per match. Reserve players will be paid PKR 5,000. This continues a downward trend, as players earned PKR 60,000 per match in 2022.
The decision comes despite Pakistan Cricket Board chairman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohsin-naqvi">Mohsin Naqvi</a>&rsquo;s earlier statements emphasising financial investment in cricket. Shortly after assuming office, Naqvi had stated that PCB funds should be spent on player development rather than being 'locked away'.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/all-england-open-badminton-championships-pv-sindhu-suffers-first-round-exit-rohan-kapoor-ruthvika-gadde-advance-8847904">All England Open Badminton Championships: PV Sindhu suffers first-round exit, Rohan Kapoor-Ruthvika Gadde advance</a>
"We'll try to make the best available for you. I have told the Pakistan Cricket Board our job is not to save money or keep it hoarded away, but to spend it on cricket, from grassroots right through to the national team. The money will be spent on your fitness, training and coaches rather than keeping it locked away," Naqvi had said days after his appointment as PCB chairman last year.
<h2 data-start="460" data-end="714">Funds to be used for stadium renovations</h2>
Pakistan Cricket Board has directed funds toward stadium renovations, hiring and releasing foreign coaches, and appointing five high-profile mentors&mdash;Waqar Younis, Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shoaib-malik">Shoaib Malik</a>&mdash;each earning PKR 5 million per month.
A Pakistan Cricket Board official told ESPNcricinfo that the fee reduction is not due to financial constraints but is based on the board&rsquo;s belief that players now have more earning opportunities with an expanded domestic calendar.
The National T20 Cup is set to begin on March 14, featuring 39 matches across Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan, with the final scheduled for March 27 in Faisalabad.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: The National T20 Cup is set to begin on March 14, featuring 39 matches across Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan, with the final scheduled for March 27 in Faisalabad

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has significantly reduced the match fees for players participating in the upcoming National T20 Cup, according to ESPNcricinfo. Following the latest cut, players will now receive a match fee of PKR 10,000, marking a drastic 75% drop from the previous edition, where they earned PKR 40,000 per match. Reserve players will be paid PKR 5,000. This continues a downward trend, as players earned PKR 60,000 per match in 2022. The decision comes despite Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s earlier statements emphasising financial investment in cricket. Shortly after assuming office, Naqvi had stated that PCB funds should be spent on player development rather than being 'locked away'. Also Read: All England Open Badminton Championships: PV Sindhu suffers first-round exit, Rohan Kapoor-Ruthvika Gadde advance "We'll try to make the best available for you. I have told the Pakistan Cricket Board our job is not to save money or keep it hoarded away, but to spend it on cricket, from grassroots right through to the national team. The money will be spent on your fitness, training and coaches rather than keeping it locked away," Naqvi had said days after his appointment as PCB chairman last year. Funds to be used for stadium renovations Pakistan Cricket Board has directed funds toward stadium renovations, hiring and releasing foreign coaches, and appointing five high-profile mentors—Waqar Younis, Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shoaib Malik—each earning PKR 5 million per month. A Pakistan Cricket Board official told ESPNcricinfo that the fee reduction is not due to financial constraints but is based on the board’s belief that players now have more earning opportunities with an expanded domestic calendar. The National T20 Cup is set to begin on March 14, featuring 39 matches across Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan, with the final scheduled for March 27 in Faisalabad. (With inputs from agencies)

PCB slashes 75% of player's match fee for National T20 Cup

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