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Mumbai Indians' stand-in captain, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/suryakumar-yadav">Suryakumar Yadav</a>, admitted that his team fell 15-20 runs short despite putting up a commendable fight against Chennai Super Kings in their high-stakes IPL 2025 match on Sunday (March 23).
In another thrilling match of Indian Premier League&rsquo;s &lsquo;El Clasico,&rsquo; MI faced a sea of yellow at Chepauk after being put in to bat by CSK. Their innings got off to a rocky start as veteran opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit Sharma</a> departed for a four-ball duck. Left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad dismantled MI&rsquo;s middle order, hampering their chances of posting a formidable total.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/csk-vs-mi-ipl-2025-rohit-attains-unwanted-record-dhoni-rolls-back-years-with-spicy-stumping-watch-8883370">CSK vs MI: Rohit attains unwanted record; MS Dhoni rolls back years with spicy stumping &ndash; Watch</a>
A crucial 51-run stand between Suryakumar and Tilak Varma helped MI scrape to 155/9. However, the total appeared below par on a challenging surface. Reflecting on the innings, Suryakumar said, "Absolutely. We were 15-20 runs short, but the fight the boys showed was commendable."
Despite the underwhelming total, MI unearthed an unexpected hero in debutant Vignesh Puthur. The young pacer, who had never played a domestic match before, made an instant impact. He dismissed CSK skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ruturaj-gaikwad" rel="dofollow">Ruturaj Gaikwad</a> with his maiden IPL wicket and later sent back Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda, keeping MI in the hunt.
<h2>SKY all praise for Vignesh</h2>
However, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rachin-ravindra">Rachin Ravindra</a> anchored CSK&rsquo;s chase and finished the game in style with a towering six, sealing a four-wicket win for the hosts. Suryakumar credited MI&rsquo;s scouting system for unearthing talents like Vignesh, saying, "Amazing, MI is known for that&mdash;giving youngsters opportunities. The scouts work for 10 months, and he is a product of that. I kept his one over in the pocket if the game went deep, but it was a no-brainer to give him the 18th over."
While Rachin steered CSK home, Suryakumar believed it was Gaikwad&rsquo;s blistering 53 that ultimately decided the match. "There wasn't any dew, but it was sticky. The way Ruturaj batted in the second innings took the game away from us," he signed off.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, sports: Rachin Ravindra anchored Chennai Super Kings' chase and finished the game in style with a towering six, sealing a four-wicket win for the hosts

Mumbai Indians' stand-in captain, Suryakumar Yadav, admitted that his team fell 15-20 runs short despite putting up a commendable fight against Chennai Super Kings in their high-stakes IPL 2025 match on Sunday (March 23). In another thrilling match of Indian Premier League’s ‘El Clasico,’ MI faced a sea of yellow at Chepauk after being put in to bat by CSK. Their innings got off to a rocky start as veteran opener Rohit Sharma departed for a four-ball duck. Left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad dismantled MI’s middle order, hampering their chances of posting a formidable total. Also Read: CSK vs MI: Rohit attains unwanted record; MS Dhoni rolls back years with spicy stumping – Watch A crucial 51-run stand between Suryakumar and Tilak Varma helped MI scrape to 155/9. However, the total appeared below par on a challenging surface. Reflecting on the innings, Suryakumar said, "Absolutely. We were 15-20 runs short, but the fight the boys showed was commendable." Despite the underwhelming total, MI unearthed an unexpected hero in debutant Vignesh Puthur. The young pacer, who had never played a domestic match before, made an instant impact. He dismissed CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad with his maiden IPL wicket and later sent back Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda, keeping MI in the hunt. SKY all praise for Vignesh However, Rachin Ravindra anchored CSK’s chase and finished the game in style with a towering six, sealing a four-wicket win for the hosts. Suryakumar credited MI’s scouting system for unearthing talents like Vignesh, saying, "Amazing, MI is known for that—giving youngsters opportunities. The scouts work for 10 months, and he is a product of that. I kept his one over in the pocket if the game went deep, but it was a no-brainer to give him the 18th over." While Rachin steered CSK home, Suryakumar believed it was Gaikwad’s blistering 53 that ultimately decided the match. "There wasn't any dew, but it was sticky. The way Ruturaj batted in the second innings took the game away from us," he signed off. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Not Rachin Ravindra, MI captain Suryakumar Yadav says THIS player who took game away from them

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings" rel="dofollow">Chennai Super Kings (CSK)</a> opened their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a> campaign with a comfortable four-wicket win over rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) in their tournament opener at Chepauk on Sunday evening. Opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rachin-ravindra" rel="dofollow">Rachin Ravindra</a> played an unbeaten knock of 65 while chasing, with Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad impressing everyone with a clutch half-century. In the first innings, Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmed returned with four wickets for 18 runs without conceding a boundary.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/csk-vs-mi-chennai-super-kings-open-ipl-2025-campaign-with-comfortable-win-over-mumbai-indians-8883408" rel="dofollow">CSK vs MI: Chennai Super Kings open IPL 2025 campaign with comfortable win over Mumbai Indians</a>
Chennai won the toss and elected to field first, bringing former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin back in the side, which included a few debutants. Seamer Khaleel Ahmed removed MI star opener Rohit Sharma on a four-ball duck before removing MI&rsquo;s gloveman Ryan Rickelton soon after. Ashwin picked a wicket on his return to CSK after a decade, with MI losing three inside the Powerplay.
Seasoned campaigners, stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma steadied MI&rsquo;s sinking ship, but not for long. CSK&rsquo;s latest recruit, Noor Ahmed, tore into MI&rsquo;s middle order, returning with four wickets on his debut for the franchise.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8lygcaj-2xskz9dl-v8p13grj">
𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙩. 𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙈𝙎 𝘿𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙞 🫡 📹 Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSK</a> legend's jaw-dropping reflexes behind the stumps 🔥 Updates ▶ <a href="https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0">https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvMI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvMI</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> <a href="https://t.co/S26cUYzRd8">pic.twitter.com/S26cUYzRd8</a>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1903829068996632608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
Although CSK pushed MI&rsquo;s back against the wall, a late blitz from their former seamer Deepak Chahar propelled Mumbai to a fighting 155 for nine in 20 overs.
<h2>Rachin, Rutu see CSK home</h2>
Rachin Ravindra continued his excellent touch at the top, while CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad came to the fore to help his team through in the first game. After Deepak removed CSK&rsquo;s Impact Player sub &ndash; Rahul Tripathi, caught behind cheaply, Rachin and Ruturaj stitched a 67-run stand for the second wicket, which included 53 just from the skipper&rsquo;s bat.&nbsp;
However, the introduction of debutant unorthodox spinner Vignesh Puthur to the attack somewhat dented CSK&rsquo;s scoring rate, as he picked three wickets, all biggies, including Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8lyg1c7-815q4hwt-gs550qcd">
𝘼 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩 ✨ Twin strikes from the young Vignesh Puthur sparks a comeback for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MI</a> 💙 Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0">https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvMI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvMI</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mipaltan</a> <a href="https://t.co/DKh2r1mmOx">pic.twitter.com/DKh2r1mmOx</a>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1903853552403095995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
England&rsquo;s Sam Curran departed soon after before a mix-up between Ravindra Jadeja and Rachin resulted in another dismissal at the stroke of chase completion.
MS Dhoni walked down the track but couldn&rsquo;t finish off the game.&nbsp;
Rachin completed the formality by hitting his national teammate Mitchell Santner for a first-ball six in the last over to complete the chase.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8lyfi85-kc8ejt7p-qofvolst">
The men in 💛 take home the honours! 💪 A classic clash in Chennai ends in the favour of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSK</a> ✨ Scorecard ▶ <a href="https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0">https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvMI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvMI</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZGPkkmsRHe">pic.twitter.com/ZGPkkmsRHe</a>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1903868078380986742?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>

Cricket, Sports: The overseas duo of spinner Noor Ahmed and opener Rachin Ravindra starred for the hosts as they clinched a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opened their IPL 2025 campaign with a comfortable four-wicket win over rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) in their tournament opener at Chepauk on Sunday evening. Opener Rachin Ravindra played an unbeaten knock of 65 while chasing, with Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad impressing everyone with a clutch half-century. In the first innings, Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmed returned with four wickets for 18 runs without conceding a boundary. Also read | CSK vs MI: Chennai Super Kings open IPL 2025 campaign with comfortable win over Mumbai Indians Chennai won the toss and elected to field first, bringing former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin back in the side, which included a few debutants. Seamer Khaleel Ahmed removed MI star opener Rohit Sharma on a four-ball duck before removing MI’s gloveman Ryan Rickelton soon after. Ashwin picked a wicket on his return to CSK after a decade, with MI losing three inside the Powerplay. Seasoned campaigners, stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma steadied MI’s sinking ship, but not for long. CSK’s latest recruit, Noor Ahmed, tore into MI’s middle order, returning with four wickets on his debut for the franchise. 𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙩. 𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙈𝙎 𝘿𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙞 🫡 📹 Watch #CSK legend's jaw-dropping reflexes behind the stumps 🔥 Updates ▶ https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0#TATAIPL | #CSKvMI | @ChennaiIPL | @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/S26cUYzRd8 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 23, 2025 Although CSK pushed MI’s back against the wall, a late blitz from their former seamer Deepak Chahar propelled Mumbai to a fighting 155 for nine in 20 overs. Rachin, Rutu see CSK home Rachin Ravindra continued his excellent touch at the top, while CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad came to the fore to help his team through in the first game. After Deepak removed CSK’s Impact Player sub – Rahul Tripathi, caught behind cheaply, Rachin and Ruturaj stitched a 67-run stand for the second wicket, which included 53 just from the skipper’s bat. However, the introduction of debutant unorthodox spinner Vignesh Puthur to the attack somewhat dented CSK’s scoring rate, as he picked three wickets, all biggies, including Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda. 𝘼 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩 ✨ Twin strikes from the young Vignesh Puthur sparks a comeback for #MI 💙 Updates ▶️ https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0#TATAIPL | #CSKvMI | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/DKh2r1mmOx — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 23, 2025 England’s Sam Curran departed soon after before a mix-up between Ravindra Jadeja and Rachin resulted in another dismissal at the stroke of chase completion. MS Dhoni walked down the track but couldn’t finish off the game. Rachin completed the formality by hitting his national teammate Mitchell Santner for a first-ball six in the last over to complete the chase. The men in 💛 take home the honours! 💪 A classic clash in Chennai ends in the favour of #CSK ✨ Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0#TATAIPL | #CSKvMI | @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/ZGPkkmsRHe — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 23, 2025

CSK vs MI: Chennai Super Kings open IPL 2025 campaign with comfortable win over Mumbai Indians

Plenty happened inside the first two hours of CSK vs MI's marquee IPL 2025 clash in Chennai on Sunday evening. The IPL&rsquo;s El-Clasico got underway with Mumbai Indians veteran and former captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma" rel="dofollow">Rohit Sharma</a> getting out on a four-ball duck to Khaleel Ahmed, registering an unwanted record. On the other hand, IPL giant and CSK great <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ms-dhoni" rel="dofollow">MS Dhoni</a>, 43, rolled back years with a spicy stumping to dismiss SKY in the first innings.
<h2>Rohit&rsquo;s unwanted record</h2>
Rohit has been searching for form lately. Although his ODI hundred against England during the February series and a match-winning 76 against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final are two standout knocks, the ageing Indian captain hasn&rsquo;t been in his element for a long time.&nbsp;
Against CSK on Sunday, Rohit became the second-most capped player (258th appearance) in the competition history but concurrently registered an unwanted record besides his name.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-ishan-kishan-enjoys-freedom-at-srh-after-rr-mauling-credits-captain-cummins-and-management-for-trust-8883229" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: Kishan enjoys &lsquo;freedom at SRH&rsquo;; credits Cummins and management for trusting him</a>
Opening alongside MI&rsquo;s latest debutant, Ryan Rickelton, Rohit faced the new ball, and before he could get into his groove, he hit one straight to mid-wicket. His four-ball zero meant he has gotten out on a duck in the IPL for the record 18th time &ndash; the joint-most alongside Glenn Maxwell and former keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik. Piyush Chawla is fourth on the list (16) and KKR&rsquo;s Sunil Narine is fifth with the same number of ducks.
<h3>Watch -</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8lwiqlc-l34gn2qg-5p1eie6n">
How's that for a start <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSK</a> fans? 💛 Khaleel Ahmed strikes twice in the powerplay with huge wickets of Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton 💪 Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/QlMj4G6N5s">https://t.co/QlMj4G6N5s</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvMI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvMI</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/jlAqdehRCq">pic.twitter.com/jlAqdehRCq</a>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1903813535903211711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
Meanwhile, it was Rohit&rsquo;s first T20 match since the T20 World Cup Final in Barbados last year. Since winning the second T20 WC in the Americas, Rohit was among the three Indian stars to announce their retirements from this format.
<h3>Dhoni rolls back years</h3>
IPL giant MS Dhoni was back playing competitive cricket for the first time since the last season, and even after getting a year older, he didn&rsquo;t let his reflexes disappoint him.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/csk-vs-mi-why-should-we-even-ms-dhonis-ipl-retirement-question-irks-sunil-gavaskar-8882638" rel="dofollow">CSK vs MI: 'Why should we even...,' MS Dhoni&rsquo;s IPL retirement question irks Gavaskar</a>
Keeping wickets as he always does, Dhoni produced magic to dismiss MI&rsquo;s stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav.&nbsp;
SKY misread Noor Ahmed&rsquo;s wrong-un, only for Dhoni to collect the ball and dislaunch the bails quickly before SKY could return to the crease. Just after Dhoni affected a successful stumping, the crowd went crazy; Suryakumar walked back to the pavilion without waiting for the third umpire&rsquo;s call.&nbsp;
<h3>Watch -</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8lw9n9l-geg86fnh-rfig127c">
𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙩. 𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙈𝙎 𝘿𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙞 🫡 📹 Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSK</a> legend's jaw-dropping reflexes behind the stumps 🔥 Updates ▶ <a href="https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0">https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvMI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvMI</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> <a href="https://t.co/S26cUYzRd8">pic.twitter.com/S26cUYzRd8</a>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1903829068996632608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
Meanwhile, Mumbai scored 155 for nine in the first innings.&nbsp;

Cricket, Sports: Against CSK on Sunday, Rohit became the second-most capped player in IPL history but concurrently registered an unwanted record besides his name.

Plenty happened inside the first two hours of CSK vs MI's marquee IPL 2025 clash in Chennai on Sunday evening. The IPL’s El-Clasico got underway with Mumbai Indians veteran and former captain Rohit Sharma getting out on a four-ball duck to Khaleel Ahmed, registering an unwanted record. On the other hand, IPL giant and CSK great MS Dhoni, 43, rolled back years with a spicy stumping to dismiss SKY in the first innings. Rohit’s unwanted record Rohit has been searching for form lately. Although his ODI hundred against England during the February series and a match-winning 76 against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final are two standout knocks, the ageing Indian captain hasn’t been in his element for a long time. Against CSK on Sunday, Rohit became the second-most capped player (258th appearance) in the competition history but concurrently registered an unwanted record besides his name. Also read | IPL 2025: Kishan enjoys ‘freedom at SRH’; credits Cummins and management for trusting him Opening alongside MI’s latest debutant, Ryan Rickelton, Rohit faced the new ball, and before he could get into his groove, he hit one straight to mid-wicket. His four-ball zero meant he has gotten out on a duck in the IPL for the record 18th time – the joint-most alongside Glenn Maxwell and former keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik. Piyush Chawla is fourth on the list (16) and KKR’s Sunil Narine is fifth with the same number of ducks. Watch - How's that for a start #CSK fans? 💛 Khaleel Ahmed strikes twice in the powerplay with huge wickets of Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton 💪 Updates ▶️ https://t.co/QlMj4G6N5s#TATAIPL | #CSKvMI | @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/jlAqdehRCq — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 23, 2025 Meanwhile, it was Rohit’s first T20 match since the T20 World Cup Final in Barbados last year. Since winning the second T20 WC in the Americas, Rohit was among the three Indian stars to announce their retirements from this format. Dhoni rolls back years IPL giant MS Dhoni was back playing competitive cricket for the first time since the last season, and even after getting a year older, he didn’t let his reflexes disappoint him. Also read | CSK vs MI: 'Why should we even...,' MS Dhoni’s IPL retirement question irks Gavaskar Keeping wickets as he always does, Dhoni produced magic to dismiss MI’s stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav. SKY misread Noor Ahmed’s wrong-un, only for Dhoni to collect the ball and dislaunch the bails quickly before SKY could return to the crease. Just after Dhoni affected a successful stumping, the crowd went crazy; Suryakumar walked back to the pavilion without waiting for the third umpire’s call. Watch - 𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙩. 𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙈𝙎 𝘿𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙞 🫡 📹 Watch #CSK legend's jaw-dropping reflexes behind the stumps 🔥 Updates ▶ https://t.co/QlMj4G7kV0#TATAIPL | #CSKvMI | @ChennaiIPL | @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/S26cUYzRd8 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 23, 2025 Meanwhile, Mumbai scored 155 for nine in the first innings.

CSK vs MI: Rohit attains unwanted record; MS Dhoni rolls back years with spicy stumping – Watch

It was all about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ishan-kishan" rel="dofollow">Ishan Kishan</a> till Sunday evening, and didn&rsquo;t he enjoy it? SunRisers Hyderabad&rsquo;s latest superstar <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ishan-kishan-hits-hundred-on-srh-debut-as-hosts-register-second-highest-team-total-in-ipl-history-8882718" rel="dofollow">smashed a hundred on his debut for the franchise</a>, saying the freedom he got at his new IPL home brings the best out of him. His match-winning 106* helped the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-ishan-kishan-match-winning-106-helps-srh-prevail-in-run-fest-against-rr-at-home-jofra-archer-8883014" rel="dofollow">hosts beat Rajasthan Royals by 44 runs</a> in their tournament opener, and Kishan had everyone but captain Pat Cummins to credit this win for, whom he thanked for backing him.
Kishan played for seven seasons at Mumbai Indians, winning the IPL trophy thrice, but the franchise decided against retaining him ahead of the mega auction late last year. At the auction, MI tried chasing him but fell shy of SRH, which bagged his services for $1.3m (INR 11.25 crore). The rest is there for everyone to see.
Meanwhile, Ishan walked out to bat at number three, a position he looked comfortable at on his maiden SRH outing. The left-handed batter took no time before unleashing himself on the opposition, taking the bowlers to the cleaners. If his onslaught against RR&rsquo;s Jofra Archer inside the Powerplay was a trailer, his toiling of the remainder of the attack was a blockbuster show.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/csk-vs-mi-why-should-we-even-ms-dhonis-ipl-retirement-question-irks-sunil-gavaskar-8882638" rel="dofollow">CSK vs MI: 'Why should we even...,' MS Dhoni&rsquo;s IPL retirement question irks Gavaskar</a>
Kishan broke several records during his unbeaten knock, including becoming the first Indian player to score a hundred for SRH and the first on his debut for this side. Crediting the captain and the management for throwing trust behind him, Ishan said,&nbsp;
"The skipper, he's giving a lot of freedom to everyone. Doesn't matter if you get a lot of runs or if you get out early. Until and unless you're doing everything for the team, it's all fair. That's the confidence every player in the team needs, so hats off to him and the management."
<h2>New position, new challenges, but same joy</h2>
Ishan usually opened for Mumbai Indians, barring a couple of seasons where he batted down the order; however, in an attempt to shine at number three, he feels solid starts at the top are crucial, which was the case on Sunday.
"When Abhishek and Head started, they gave a lot of confidence to us batters in the dugout," Kishan said. "Credit goes to them also. Whenever you get such good starts, you just have to go. You can take a few balls if you want.
"It gives a lot of benefit to the No. 3 and No. 4 batters [in getting their eye in]. Credit goes to them. The pitch was really good, we were just trying to get them under pressure at any point of time, trying to get all their best bowlers to bowl around the 12-13th over so that worked our way,&rdquo; he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Kishan played for seven seasons at Mumbai Indians, but the franchise decided against retaining him ahead of the mega auction late last year.

It was all about Ishan Kishan till Sunday evening, and didn’t he enjoy it? SunRisers Hyderabad’s latest superstar smashed a hundred on his debut for the franchise, saying the freedom he got at his new IPL home brings the best out of him. His match-winning 106* helped the hosts beat Rajasthan Royals by 44 runs in their tournament opener, and Kishan had everyone but captain Pat Cummins to credit this win for, whom he thanked for backing him. Kishan played for seven seasons at Mumbai Indians, winning the IPL trophy thrice, but the franchise decided against retaining him ahead of the mega auction late last year. At the auction, MI tried chasing him but fell shy of SRH, which bagged his services for $1.3m (INR 11.25 crore). The rest is there for everyone to see. Meanwhile, Ishan walked out to bat at number three, a position he looked comfortable at on his maiden SRH outing. The left-handed batter took no time before unleashing himself on the opposition, taking the bowlers to the cleaners. If his onslaught against RR’s Jofra Archer inside the Powerplay was a trailer, his toiling of the remainder of the attack was a blockbuster show. Also read | CSK vs MI: 'Why should we even...,' MS Dhoni’s IPL retirement question irks Gavaskar Kishan broke several records during his unbeaten knock, including becoming the first Indian player to score a hundred for SRH and the first on his debut for this side. Crediting the captain and the management for throwing trust behind him, Ishan said, "The skipper, he's giving a lot of freedom to everyone. Doesn't matter if you get a lot of runs or if you get out early. Until and unless you're doing everything for the team, it's all fair. That's the confidence every player in the team needs, so hats off to him and the management." New position, new challenges, but same joy Ishan usually opened for Mumbai Indians, barring a couple of seasons where he batted down the order; however, in an attempt to shine at number three, he feels solid starts at the top are crucial, which was the case on Sunday. "When Abhishek and Head started, they gave a lot of confidence to us batters in the dugout," Kishan said. "Credit goes to them also. Whenever you get such good starts, you just have to go. You can take a few balls if you want. "It gives a lot of benefit to the No. 3 and No. 4 batters [in getting their eye in]. Credit goes to them. The pitch was really good, we were just trying to get them under pressure at any point of time, trying to get all their best bowlers to bowl around the 12-13th over so that worked our way,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Kishan enjoys ‘freedom at SRH’; credits Cummins and management for trusting him

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunrisers-hyderabad-srh" rel="dofollow">SunRisers Hyderabad</a>&rsquo;s latest recruit, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ishan-kishan" rel="dofollow">Ishan Kishan</a>, slammed his maiden hundred for his new franchise as they prevailed over Rajasthan Royals by 44 runs in game 2 of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a> on Sunday. With over 500 runs scored in a T20 game, it was a nightmare for the bowlers, especially for RR seamer Jofra Archer, who bowled the most expensive spell in the tournament history, conceding 76 runs without picking a wicket in four overs.
The second game of this edition lived up to its hype, with both teams taking a crack at each other till the final ball. Though Hyderabad won by a 44-run margin, understandably, after hitting the second-highest team total (286/4) in the competition, Rajasthan&rsquo;s intent during the chase impressed everyone equally. While Kishan made headlines with his first hundred of the season, the Indian pair of Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel kept the home fans silent for most of the chase.
RR won the toss, and the stand-in captain, Riyan Parag, asked the home side to bat first, a decision he probably regretted after the first innings. The super-attacking pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head began from where they left last season, smoking bowlers to all parts of the ground. Despite losing Abhishek inside the Powerplay, SRH hit 94 runs in six overs.
Kishan and Head continued the onslaught, with Head completing his fifty. His dismissal brought Nitish Kumar Reddy to the crease, who enjoyed his brief stint, and so did Proteas&rsquo; Heinrich Klaasen, who came in next. Though they had their share of cheers, Kishan holding one end meant he would achieve history, which he did after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ishan-kishan-hits-hundred-on-srh-debut-as-hosts-register-second-highest-team-total-in-ipl-history-8882718" rel="dofollow">becoming the first Indian player to score an IPL hundred for SRH</a>.
<h2>RR came close, but not enough</h2>
Rajasthan lost three wickets upfront, including their captain on four. Reeling at 50 for three inside the first six overs, they looked like running a lost race, but Jurel and Samson had other plans. While Jurel began taking the SRH bowlers to the cleaners, including smashing their skipper Pat Cummins for an overhead six on his first ball, Samson joined him soon after.&nbsp;
The pair added 111 runs in 59 balls, giving little hope to the RR fans of an improbable-looking chase; however, SRH quick Harshal Patel broke that hope with a bouncer that dismissed Samson on 66. Two balls later, SRH&rsquo;s Impact Sub Adam Zampa removed Jurel (70).&nbsp;
With plenty remaining to fight for, Shimron Hetmyer and Shubham Dubey tried their best, hitting quick-fire 42 and 34*, respectively, but they failed to get their team across the line.&nbsp;

Cricket, Sports: SRH scored 286 for four in the first innings, the second-highest team total in the tournament history. The highest, however, belongs to them only.

SunRisers Hyderabad’s latest recruit, Ishan Kishan, slammed his maiden hundred for his new franchise as they prevailed over Rajasthan Royals by 44 runs in game 2 of IPL 2025 on Sunday. With over 500 runs scored in a T20 game, it was a nightmare for the bowlers, especially for RR seamer Jofra Archer, who bowled the most expensive spell in the tournament history, conceding 76 runs without picking a wicket in four overs. The second game of this edition lived up to its hype, with both teams taking a crack at each other till the final ball. Though Hyderabad won by a 44-run margin, understandably, after hitting the second-highest team total (286/4) in the competition, Rajasthan’s intent during the chase impressed everyone equally. While Kishan made headlines with his first hundred of the season, the Indian pair of Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel kept the home fans silent for most of the chase. RR won the toss, and the stand-in captain, Riyan Parag, asked the home side to bat first, a decision he probably regretted after the first innings. The super-attacking pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head began from where they left last season, smoking bowlers to all parts of the ground. Despite losing Abhishek inside the Powerplay, SRH hit 94 runs in six overs. Kishan and Head continued the onslaught, with Head completing his fifty. His dismissal brought Nitish Kumar Reddy to the crease, who enjoyed his brief stint, and so did Proteas’ Heinrich Klaasen, who came in next. Though they had their share of cheers, Kishan holding one end meant he would achieve history, which he did after becoming the first Indian player to score an IPL hundred for SRH. RR came close, but not enough Rajasthan lost three wickets upfront, including their captain on four. Reeling at 50 for three inside the first six overs, they looked like running a lost race, but Jurel and Samson had other plans. While Jurel began taking the SRH bowlers to the cleaners, including smashing their skipper Pat Cummins for an overhead six on his first ball, Samson joined him soon after. The pair added 111 runs in 59 balls, giving little hope to the RR fans of an improbable-looking chase; however, SRH quick Harshal Patel broke that hope with a bouncer that dismissed Samson on 66. Two balls later, SRH’s Impact Sub Adam Zampa removed Jurel (70). With plenty remaining to fight for, Shimron Hetmyer and Shubham Dubey tried their best, hitting quick-fire 42 and 34*, respectively, but they failed to get their team across the line.

IPL 2025: Ishan Kishan’s match-winning 106* helps SRH prevail in run-fest against RR

Records galore for fun in game 2 of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a> as hosts <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunrisers-hyderabad-srh" rel="dofollow">SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH)</a> hammered a mammoth 286 for four against Rajasthan Royals, registering the second-highest team total in the tournament history. Making his SRH debut, India gloveman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ishan-kishan" rel="dofollow">Ishan Kishan</a> was on song, hitting the first hundred of this edition, remaining unbeaten 106 off 47 balls, including six sixes and 11 fours.
Rajasthan&rsquo;s stand-in captain Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision SRH ensured he would regret after the end of the first innings.&nbsp;
The attacking pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head began proceedings in the most SRH way, slamming fours and sixes for fun. Despite Abhishek&rsquo;s dismissal inside the Powerplay, the hosts hit 94 from the first six overs.&nbsp;
So, what was the big deal about it? It was a sign of things to come.
Recruited at the last mega auction in December, gloveman Ishan Kishan delivered on his SRH debut, whacking bowlers to all parts of the ground. He took the attack to the England seamer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jofra-archer" rel="dofollow">Jofra Archer</a>, who attained an unwanted record of conceding the most runs in an IPL game (0/76 in four overs).
<h2>Kishan's show all the way!</h2>
Meanwhile, Kishan and Head never looked like stopping, increasing the team&rsquo;s scoring rate with each passing over. Seamer Tushar Deshpande removed Head on 67 (31), only for Nitish Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen to come and continue the onslaught.&nbsp;
Despite everyone else hogging a little limelight with his brief stints, Ishan held his ground and looked in his element till the end. He completed his first hundred for his new IPL team, putting them in the driver&rsquo;s seat in their tournament opener.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8lm84aq-8oc9ivjk-3kxhzmlg">
𝐆𝐄𝐍 𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐃'𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝟏𝟎𝟎 🥶 WHAT A KNOCK, ISHAN! A stunning century in just 45 balls, pure fireworks on the field! 🤩 Watch LIVE action: <a href="https://t.co/AS2kwWg8tW">https://t.co/AS2kwWg8tW</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLonJioStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLonJioStar</a> 👉 SRH 🆚 RR, LIVE NOW on Star Sports 2 &amp; JioHotstar <a href="https://t.co/T0Hu69jixI">pic.twitter.com/T0Hu69jixI</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1903780013062979687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
Although Deshpande came close to picking his maiden IPL hat-trick in the last over after dismissing Aniket Verma and Abhinav Manohar on successive balls, Kishan&rsquo;s last-ball boundary stole the show.
Addressing the media right after his super show at his new IPL home, Kishan said,
&ldquo;(It) feels good; it was coming for a while. Wanted to get this last season but happy to get that first hundred. The team has put their faith in me, and I want to do my best for them.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The captain has given us all a lot of freedom and confidence, hats off to the management. When Abhishek and Head started, they gave a lot of confidence to us batters in the dugout. The pitch was looking good, and we were just trying to get them under pressure. We need to be on point with the ball and keep it simple. Rajasthan bowlers are good, but if we bowl in the right areas and to the plans, we should be good,&rdquo; Kishan said. Meanwhile, for RR to win this match, they need to complete the highest successful run chase in IPL.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) holds the record for the highest team total in the competition history, scoring 287 for three against the RCB last season.

Records galore for fun in game 2 of IPL 2025 as hosts SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) hammered a mammoth 286 for four against Rajasthan Royals, registering the second-highest team total in the tournament history. Making his SRH debut, India gloveman Ishan Kishan was on song, hitting the first hundred of this edition, remaining unbeaten 106 off 47 balls, including six sixes and 11 fours. Rajasthan’s stand-in captain Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision SRH ensured he would regret after the end of the first innings. The attacking pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head began proceedings in the most SRH way, slamming fours and sixes for fun. Despite Abhishek’s dismissal inside the Powerplay, the hosts hit 94 from the first six overs. So, what was the big deal about it? It was a sign of things to come. Recruited at the last mega auction in December, gloveman Ishan Kishan delivered on his SRH debut, whacking bowlers to all parts of the ground. He took the attack to the England seamer Jofra Archer, who attained an unwanted record of conceding the most runs in an IPL game (0/76 in four overs). Kishan's show all the way! Meanwhile, Kishan and Head never looked like stopping, increasing the team’s scoring rate with each passing over. Seamer Tushar Deshpande removed Head on 67 (31), only for Nitish Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen to come and continue the onslaught. Despite everyone else hogging a little limelight with his brief stints, Ishan held his ground and looked in his element till the end. He completed his first hundred for his new IPL team, putting them in the driver’s seat in their tournament opener. 𝐆𝐄𝐍 𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐃'𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝟏𝟎𝟎 🥶 WHAT A KNOCK, ISHAN! A stunning century in just 45 balls, pure fireworks on the field! 🤩 Watch LIVE action: https://t.co/AS2kwWg8tW#IPLonJioStar 👉 SRH 🆚 RR, LIVE NOW on Star Sports 2 & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/T0Hu69jixI — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 23, 2025 Although Deshpande came close to picking his maiden IPL hat-trick in the last over after dismissing Aniket Verma and Abhinav Manohar on successive balls, Kishan’s last-ball boundary stole the show. Addressing the media right after his super show at his new IPL home, Kishan said, “(It) feels good; it was coming for a while. Wanted to get this last season but happy to get that first hundred. The team has put their faith in me, and I want to do my best for them. “The captain has given us all a lot of freedom and confidence, hats off to the management. When Abhishek and Head started, they gave a lot of confidence to us batters in the dugout. The pitch was looking good, and we were just trying to get them under pressure. We need to be on point with the ball and keep it simple. Rajasthan bowlers are good, but if we bowl in the right areas and to the plans, we should be good,” Kishan said. Meanwhile, for RR to win this match, they need to complete the highest successful run chase in IPL. (With inputs from agencies)

Ishan Kishan hits hundred on SRH debut as hosts register second-highest team total in IPL history

Veteran India cricketer-turned-broadcaster <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunil-gavaskar" rel="dofollow">Sunil Gavaskar</a> got irritated by the same question around <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ms-dhoni" rel="dofollow">MS Dhoni</a>&rsquo;s IPL retirement ahead of the marquee CSK vs MI <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a> clash at Chepauk on Sunday evening. Dhoni, 43, will feature in his 18th edition of the cash-rich league, becoming one of the handfuls of Indian stars to play all editions.
Everyone, from active cricketers to commentators and analysts, has asked MS Dhoni at least once about his retirement plans ahead and after every season. Since announcing his international retirement in August 2020, almost a year after he last played for the Men in Blue during the 2019 ODI World Cup, Dhoni has featured for CSK in all seasons, winning twice (2021 and 2023), with the ongoing edition tipped to be his last.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/did-personal-vendetta-against-certain-players-cost-irfan-pathan-his-ipl-2025-commentary-stint-report-suggests-so-8882426" rel="dofollow">Did personal vendetta against certain players cost Irfan Pathan his IPL 2025 commentary stint? Report suggests so</a>
Meanwhile, Dhoni denied reports of hanging his IPL boots, as he does every time before each edition, adding he would play for as long as he wants and that CSK is his franchise. Thala, as cricket fans call him, said CSK will drag him into the playing XI even if he's in a wheelchair.
"I can play for as long as I want for CSK. That's my franchise. Even if I'm in a wheelchair, they'll drag me," Dhoni said in a chat on JioHotstar.
<h2>The same question irks Gavaskar</h2>
Although it&rsquo;s understandable how annoying it must be for anyone to keep answering the same questions for years together, for Gavaskar, who himself must have done it before, it got to his nerves, saying why should anyone even ask that question to him and by doing that put him under pressure.&nbsp;
"Why should we even ask that question? Why put pressure on him? Every time people question MS Dhoni, he proves them wrong," Gavaskar said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.&nbsp;
Gavaskar lauded Dhoni, saying he still hits the farthest sixes in the game and that age is just the number for him.&nbsp;
"Don't doubt his ability. Even at this age, he's hitting sixes not just past the boundary but into the stands during practice. Age is just a number when it comes to Dhoni," the veteran cricketer added.
Meanwhile, Dhoni will again hog all the limelight when he takes the field against Mumbai Indians at the Chepauk in CSK&rsquo;s tournament opener. Although not a designated captain anymore, Dhoni remains the cult figure in CSK&rsquo;s dressing room, taking all decisions, on and off the field.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Veteran Sunil Gavaskar lauded MS Dhoni, saying the CSK giant still hits the farthest sixes in the game and that age is just the number for him.

Veteran India cricketer-turned-broadcaster Sunil Gavaskar got irritated by the same question around MS Dhoni’s IPL retirement ahead of the marquee CSK vs MI IPL 2025 clash at Chepauk on Sunday evening. Dhoni, 43, will feature in his 18th edition of the cash-rich league, becoming one of the handfuls of Indian stars to play all editions. Everyone, from active cricketers to commentators and analysts, has asked MS Dhoni at least once about his retirement plans ahead and after every season. Since announcing his international retirement in August 2020, almost a year after he last played for the Men in Blue during the 2019 ODI World Cup, Dhoni has featured for CSK in all seasons, winning twice (2021 and 2023), with the ongoing edition tipped to be his last. Also read | Did personal vendetta against certain players cost Irfan Pathan his IPL 2025 commentary stint? Report suggests so Meanwhile, Dhoni denied reports of hanging his IPL boots, as he does every time before each edition, adding he would play for as long as he wants and that CSK is his franchise. Thala, as cricket fans call him, said CSK will drag him into the playing XI even if he's in a wheelchair. "I can play for as long as I want for CSK. That's my franchise. Even if I'm in a wheelchair, they'll drag me," Dhoni said in a chat on JioHotstar. The same question irks Gavaskar Although it’s understandable how annoying it must be for anyone to keep answering the same questions for years together, for Gavaskar, who himself must have done it before, it got to his nerves, saying why should anyone even ask that question to him and by doing that put him under pressure. "Why should we even ask that question? Why put pressure on him? Every time people question MS Dhoni, he proves them wrong," Gavaskar said, as quoted by Hindustan Times. Gavaskar lauded Dhoni, saying he still hits the farthest sixes in the game and that age is just the number for him. "Don't doubt his ability. Even at this age, he's hitting sixes not just past the boundary but into the stands during practice. Age is just a number when it comes to Dhoni," the veteran cricketer added. Meanwhile, Dhoni will again hog all the limelight when he takes the field against Mumbai Indians at the Chepauk in CSK’s tournament opener. Although not a designated captain anymore, Dhoni remains the cult figure in CSK’s dressing room, taking all decisions, on and off the field. (With inputs from agencies)

CSK vs MI: 'Why should we even...,' MS Dhoni’s IPL retirement question irks Gavaskar

New Zealand's ruthless pace attack carved up Pakistan to deliver a crushing 115-run win in the fourth Twenty20 on Sunday and clinch the five-match series. The home side moved 3-1 ahead after defending 220-6 in Mount Maunganui and then dismissing a ragged Pakistan for just 105 in the 17th over.<o:p></o:p>
Jacob Duffy claimed 4-20 and fellow seamer Zak Foulkes 3-25 as Pakistan suffered their biggest T20 loss by runs against all nations, eclipsing a 95-run defeat against New Zealand in Wellington nine years ago.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/guwahati-to-host-its-first-ever-test-and-world-cup-matches-in-2025-bcci-8882317" rel="dofollow">Guwahati to host its first-ever Test and World Cup matches in 2025: BCCI</a>
The tourists were reduced to 9-3 after two overs with Duffy bagging two scalps in his first over, both caught by wicketkeeper Mitch Hay. Duffy's first victim was Hasan Nawaz for one, two days after the Pakistan opener blasted a maiden century in game three in Auckland to keep the series alive.<o:p></o:p>
Teetering at 56-8, Pakistan's innings had some credibility restored thanks to 44 off 30 balls from all-rounder Abdul Samad.<o:p></o:p>
The only other batsman to score in double figures was Irfan Khan with 24.<o:p></o:p>
Pakistan captain Salman Agha said New Zealand's bowlers exploited some helpful conditions under lights.<o:p></o:p>
"They bowled really well and they outplayed us," Salman said. "I mean, the ball talked. It was swinging and it was turning as well. But we are international cricketers, so we have to adapt that and we have to be better.<o:p></o:p>
"We need to regroup and we need to win the last game."<o:p></o:p>
It was New Zealand's second biggest T20 win by runs, nearly surpassing their 119-run drubbing of the West Indies in 2018 at the same Bay Oval venue.<o:p></o:p>
Earlier, Finn Allen raced to 50 off just 20 balls, putting on 59 for New Zealand's opening stand with Tim Seifert, whose 44 took 22 deliveries.<o:p></o:p>
Seifert was the first of three batsmen dismissed by seamer Haris Rauf, who claimed 3-27.<o:p></o:p>
Allen struck six fours and three sixes while captain Michael Bracewell was nearly as effective at the death, blasting 46 not out off 26 balls.<o:p></o:p>
Bracewell was delighted with his team's all-round response to the loss at Auckland.<o:p></o:p>
"Bouncing back only a day or so after the performance at Eden Park was outstanding," he said. "It shows the benefit of those guys batting so well at the top, they got us well ahead of the game.<o:p></o:p>
"All the seamers bowled brilliantly tonight. It's nice when you give bowlers a go, like Zak Foulkes coming into the match. Three wickets for him was a brilliant performance."<o:p></o:p>
Game five is in Wellington on Wednesday.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Cricket, Sports: Days after completing a brilliant run chase against New Zealand in Auckland, Pakistan succumbed to their biggest loss by runs in the 4th T20I.

New Zealand's ruthless pace attack carved up Pakistan to deliver a crushing 115-run win in the fourth Twenty20 on Sunday and clinch the five-match series. The home side moved 3-1 ahead after defending 220-6 in Mount Maunganui and then dismissing a ragged Pakistan for just 105 in the 17th over. Jacob Duffy claimed 4-20 and fellow seamer Zak Foulkes 3-25 as Pakistan suffered their biggest T20 loss by runs against all nations, eclipsing a 95-run defeat against New Zealand in Wellington nine years ago. Also read | Guwahati to host its first-ever Test and World Cup matches in 2025: BCCI The tourists were reduced to 9-3 after two overs with Duffy bagging two scalps in his first over, both caught by wicketkeeper Mitch Hay. Duffy's first victim was Hasan Nawaz for one, two days after the Pakistan opener blasted a maiden century in game three in Auckland to keep the series alive. Teetering at 56-8, Pakistan's innings had some credibility restored thanks to 44 off 30 balls from all-rounder Abdul Samad. The only other batsman to score in double figures was Irfan Khan with 24. Pakistan captain Salman Agha said New Zealand's bowlers exploited some helpful conditions under lights. "They bowled really well and they outplayed us," Salman said. "I mean, the ball talked. It was swinging and it was turning as well. But we are international cricketers, so we have to adapt that and we have to be better. "We need to regroup and we need to win the last game." It was New Zealand's second biggest T20 win by runs, nearly surpassing their 119-run drubbing of the West Indies in 2018 at the same Bay Oval venue. Earlier, Finn Allen raced to 50 off just 20 balls, putting on 59 for New Zealand's opening stand with Tim Seifert, whose 44 took 22 deliveries. Seifert was the first of three batsmen dismissed by seamer Haris Rauf, who claimed 3-27. Allen struck six fours and three sixes while captain Michael Bracewell was nearly as effective at the death, blasting 46 not out off 26 balls. Bracewell was delighted with his team's all-round response to the loss at Auckland. "Bouncing back only a day or so after the performance at Eden Park was outstanding," he said. "It shows the benefit of those guys batting so well at the top, they got us well ahead of the game. "All the seamers bowled brilliantly tonight. It's nice when you give bowlers a go, like Zak Foulkes coming into the match. Three wickets for him was a brilliant performance." Game five is in Wellington on Wednesday. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

New Zealand hand Pakistan their biggest defeat by runs in 4th T20I, seal series

Former cricketer-turned-broadcaster <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/irfan-pathan" rel="dofollow">Irfan Pathan</a> was nowhere mentioned or to be seen in the commentary box during the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a> opener on Saturday (Mar 22). Per the latest report, the BCCI has sidelined the ex-India quick from commentating in the 18th edition of the cash-rich league as the broadcasters are unhappy with him for bringing personal vendetta against certain unnamed players on-air and on his social media handles.
Once deemed India&rsquo;s Jacques Kallis, Pathan had a premature end to his international career, with his last appearance coming 13 years ago during the 2012 T20 World Cup. Since then, he moved to his new job as a broadcaster, regularly doing Hindi commentary for Star Sports.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-shardul-thakur-to-join-lsg-after-mohsin-ruled-out-due-to-injury-8881962" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: Shardul Thakur to join LSG after Mohsin ruled out due to injury</a>
However, with time, his grudges against a few players kept coming out in some form or the other, with the Indian Board and broadcaster taking note of it.
"Pathan had a fallout with a couple of players a few years ago. Since then, he has not shied away from referring to them aggressively. The matter was raised that other junior players got caught in the crossfire. He has been accused of taking potshots at them on social media platforms even if he didn't name them," a BCCI source said, as quoted by the TOI.
<h2>Not the first time</h2>
However, even before the BCCI banned former cricketers from commentating during domestic or international matches. In 2020, the Indian Cricket Board stripped Sanjay Manjrekar from the commentary panel for India&rsquo;s ODI series against the Proteas over his controversial &lsquo;bits and pieces&rsquo; remarks on India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-theres-something-special-about-this-rcb-team-this-year-says-former-australian-opening-batter-matthew-hayden-8881570" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: 'There's something special about this RCB team this year', says former Australian opening batter Matthew Hayden</a>
"I have always considered commentary as a great privilege but never an entitlement. It is up to my employers whether they choose to have me or not &amp; I will always respect that. Maybe BCCI has not been happy with my performance of late. I accept that as a professional," Manjrekar posted on social media after facing commentary snub.
Besides, veteran cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle was removed from IPL&rsquo;s commentary panel in 2016.&nbsp;
"I still don't know why I am not doing the IPL. I can accept the fact that people don't like me. But I genuinely hope it isn't because cricketers have complained about what I have to say," Bhogle posted on social media.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Once deemed India’s Kallis, Irfan Pathan had a premature end to his international career, with his last appearance coming 13 years ago.

Former cricketer-turned-broadcaster Irfan Pathan was nowhere mentioned or to be seen in the commentary box during the IPL 2025 opener on Saturday (Mar 22). Per the latest report, the BCCI has sidelined the ex-India quick from commentating in the 18th edition of the cash-rich league as the broadcasters are unhappy with him for bringing personal vendetta against certain unnamed players on-air and on his social media handles. Once deemed India’s Jacques Kallis, Pathan had a premature end to his international career, with his last appearance coming 13 years ago during the 2012 T20 World Cup. Since then, he moved to his new job as a broadcaster, regularly doing Hindi commentary for Star Sports. Also read | IPL 2025: Shardul Thakur to join LSG after Mohsin ruled out due to injury However, with time, his grudges against a few players kept coming out in some form or the other, with the Indian Board and broadcaster taking note of it. "Pathan had a fallout with a couple of players a few years ago. Since then, he has not shied away from referring to them aggressively. The matter was raised that other junior players got caught in the crossfire. He has been accused of taking potshots at them on social media platforms even if he didn't name them," a BCCI source said, as quoted by the TOI. Not the first time However, even before the BCCI banned former cricketers from commentating during domestic or international matches. In 2020, the Indian Cricket Board stripped Sanjay Manjrekar from the commentary panel for India’s ODI series against the Proteas over his controversial ‘bits and pieces’ remarks on India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Also read | IPL 2025: 'There's something special about this RCB team this year', says former Australian opening batter Matthew Hayden "I have always considered commentary as a great privilege but never an entitlement. It is up to my employers whether they choose to have me or not & I will always respect that. Maybe BCCI has not been happy with my performance of late. I accept that as a professional," Manjrekar posted on social media after facing commentary snub. Besides, veteran cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle was removed from IPL’s commentary panel in 2016. "I still don't know why I am not doing the IPL. I can accept the fact that people don't like me. But I genuinely hope it isn't because cricketers have complained about what I have to say," Bhogle posted on social media. (With inputs from agencies)

Did personal vendetta against certain players cost Irfan Pathan his IPL 2025 commentary stint? Report suggests so

Guwahati is set to make history as the first Test cricket venue in the northeast when India faces South Africa in November, BCCI general secretary Devajit Saikia announced on Sunday.
Additionally, the city will host its first-ever World Cup match later this year during the ICC Women's ODI World Cup.&nbsp;"Until now, no Test or World Cup matches have been played in Guwahati. However, following the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/bcci">BCCI</a> apex council's decision on Saturday, the city will host both events this year," Saikia said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-shardul-thakur-to-join-lsg-after-mohsin-ruled-out-due-to-injury-8881962">IPL 2025: Shardul Thakur to join LSG after Mohsin ruled out due to injury</a>
The second Test of the two-match series between India and South Africa will be held at the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Stadium from November 22, marking Guwahati&rsquo;s entry into Test cricket.
The ACA Stadium will also be a key venue for the ICC Women's ODI World Cup, hosting five to six matches&mdash;the first-ever World Cup games in the northeast.
"The Women's World Cup will take place from September 24 to November 2, with the final schedule still being finalised. Guwahati has been confirmed as one of the host cities," Saikia added.
Saikia, a former ACA general secretary, expressed gratitude to ICC Chairman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jay-shah">Jay Shah</a> and Assam chief minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/himanta-sarma">Himanta Biswa Sarma</a> for their support in establishing Guwahati as a major cricketing destination.
<h2>Just wait &amp; watch: Ganguly on KKR vs LSG match (April 6)</h2>
The uncertainty surrounding the venue for the IPL 2025 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) persists, but Sourav Ganguly remains confident that the match will be held as scheduled at Eden Gardens. Reports had suggested that the April 6 fixture might be relocated to Guwahati due to security concerns, with Kolkata Police allegedly informing the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) about potential difficulties in managing security on account of the Ram Navami celebrations.
However, Ganguly, the former India captain and ex-BCCI president, dismissed these speculations, referencing a social media post by Kolkata Police. Speaking at an event in Kolkata, he urged fans to 'just wait and watch' for further developments.
"Have you seen Kolkata Police&rsquo;s post yesterday? I don&rsquo;t think the match will be shifted," Ganguly said, as quoted saying to PTI. He also reiterated his support for Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: The second Test of the two-match series between India and South Africa will be held at the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Stadium from November 22

Guwahati is set to make history as the first Test cricket venue in the northeast when India faces South Africa in November, BCCI general secretary Devajit Saikia announced on Sunday. Additionally, the city will host its first-ever World Cup match later this year during the ICC Women's ODI World Cup. "Until now, no Test or World Cup matches have been played in Guwahati. However, following the BCCI apex council's decision on Saturday, the city will host both events this year," Saikia said. Also Read: IPL 2025: Shardul Thakur to join LSG after Mohsin ruled out due to injury The second Test of the two-match series between India and South Africa will be held at the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Stadium from November 22, marking Guwahati’s entry into Test cricket. The ACA Stadium will also be a key venue for the ICC Women's ODI World Cup, hosting five to six matches—the first-ever World Cup games in the northeast. "The Women's World Cup will take place from September 24 to November 2, with the final schedule still being finalised. Guwahati has been confirmed as one of the host cities," Saikia added. Saikia, a former ACA general secretary, expressed gratitude to ICC Chairman Jay Shah and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for their support in establishing Guwahati as a major cricketing destination. Just wait & watch: Ganguly on KKR vs LSG match (April 6) The uncertainty surrounding the venue for the IPL 2025 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) persists, but Sourav Ganguly remains confident that the match will be held as scheduled at Eden Gardens. Reports had suggested that the April 6 fixture might be relocated to Guwahati due to security concerns, with Kolkata Police allegedly informing the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) about potential difficulties in managing security on account of the Ram Navami celebrations. However, Ganguly, the former India captain and ex-BCCI president, dismissed these speculations, referencing a social media post by Kolkata Police. Speaking at an event in Kolkata, he urged fans to 'just wait and watch' for further developments. "Have you seen Kolkata Police’s post yesterday? I don’t think the match will be shifted," Ganguly said, as quoted saying to PTI. He also reiterated his support for Delhi Capitals in the IPL. (With inputs from agencies)

Guwahati to host its first-ever Test and World Cup matches in 2025: BCCI

SRH vs RR, IPL 2025 Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Rajasthan Royals will kick off their Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) campaign against last season's runners-up SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The former champions will look to make a positive start to their season, having made the playoffs in IPL 2024. Ahead of the IPL 2025 contest between SunRisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, here are all the details.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match&nbsp;on TV?</h2>
The SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports and Sports 18 Network in India.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the SRH vs RR IPL 2025 match Live Streaming online on OTT?</h2>
The SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Which stadium will host the SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match?</h2>
The SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match will be played at the iconic Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What time will the SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match?</h2>
The SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match will start at 3:30 PM IST on Sunday (Mar 23) with the toss taking place at 3:00 PM IST.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-heres-what-ipl-chairman-said-about-cash-rich-league-happening-in-saudi-arabia-8879549" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025 | Here's what IPL chairman said about cash-rich league happening in Saudi Arabia</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">SRH vs RR, IPL 2025 Squads<o:p></o:p></h2>
SunRisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Pat Cummins(c), Harshal Patel, Adam Zampa, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Jaydev Unadkat, Kamindu Mendis, Zeeshan Ansari, Wiaan Mulder, Atharva Taide, Simarjeet Singh, Eshan Malinga, Aniket Verma.
Rajasthan Royals:&nbsp;Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel(w), Shubham Dubey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Maheesh Theekshana, Kwena Maphaka, Ashok Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kunal Singh Rathore.

SRH vs RR Free Live Streaming: Rajasthan Royals will kick off their Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) campaign against last season's runners-up SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH).

SRH vs RR, IPL 2025 Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Rajasthan Royals will kick off their Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) campaign against last season's runners-up SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The former champions will look to make a positive start to their season, having made the playoffs in IPL 2024. Ahead of the IPL 2025 contest between SunRisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, here are all the details. Where to watch the SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match on TV? The SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports and Sports 18 Network in India. Where to watch the SRH vs RR IPL 2025 match Live Streaming online on OTT? The SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Which stadium will host the SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match? The SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match will be played at the iconic Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. What time will the SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match? The SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 match will start at 3:30 PM IST on Sunday (Mar 23) with the toss taking place at 3:00 PM IST. ALSO READ | IPL 2025 | Here's what IPL chairman said about cash-rich league happening in Saudi Arabia SRH vs RR, IPL 2025 Squads SunRisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Pat Cummins(c), Harshal Patel, Adam Zampa, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Jaydev Unadkat, Kamindu Mendis, Zeeshan Ansari, Wiaan Mulder, Atharva Taide, Simarjeet Singh, Eshan Malinga, Aniket Verma. Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel(w), Shubham Dubey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Maheesh Theekshana, Kwena Maphaka, Ashok Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kunal Singh Rathore.

SRH vs RR Free Live Streaming || When and where to watch SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 live online

CSK vs MI, IPL 2025 Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;Arch-rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will lock horns in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) as the two meet at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The contest will serve as the first high-voltage meeting between the sides as they aim to capture their sixth title in the IPL. Ahead of the IPL 2025 contest between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, here are all the details.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">CSK vs MI Free Live Streaming: OTT</h2>
The Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match&nbsp;on TV?</h2>
The Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports and Sports 18 Network in India.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Which stadium will host the Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match?</h2>
The Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match will be played at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What time will the Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match?</h2>
The Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match will start at 7:30 PM IST on Sunday (Mar 23) with the toss taking place at 7:00 PM IST.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-heres-what-ipl-chairman-said-about-cash-rich-league-happening-in-saudi-arabia-8879549" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025 | Here's what IPL chairman said about cash-rich league happening in Saudi Arabia</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">CSK vs MI, IPL 2025 Squads<o:p></o:p></h2>
Chennai Super Kings:&nbsp;Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rashid, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjanpreet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishnan Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth.
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Verma, Trent Boult, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Shrijith Krishnan, Raj Angad Bawa, Venkat Satyanarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Vignesh Puthhur, Suryakumar Yadav.
Injury replacements: Allah Ghazanfar and Lizaad Williams were replaced by Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Corbin Bosch.

CSK vs MI Free Live Streaming: Arch-rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will lock horns in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) as the two meet at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

CSK vs MI, IPL 2025 Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Arch-rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will lock horns in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) as the two meet at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The contest will serve as the first high-voltage meeting between the sides as they aim to capture their sixth title in the IPL. Ahead of the IPL 2025 contest between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, here are all the details. CSK vs MI Free Live Streaming: OTT The Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Where to watch the Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match on TV? The Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports and Sports 18 Network in India. Which stadium will host the Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match? The Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match will be played at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. What time will the Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match? The Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match will start at 7:30 PM IST on Sunday (Mar 23) with the toss taking place at 7:00 PM IST. ALSO READ | IPL 2025 | Here's what IPL chairman said about cash-rich league happening in Saudi Arabia CSK vs MI, IPL 2025 Squads Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rashid, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjanpreet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishnan Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth. Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Verma, Trent Boult, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Shrijith Krishnan, Raj Angad Bawa, Venkat Satyanarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Vignesh Puthhur, Suryakumar Yadav. Injury replacements: Allah Ghazanfar and Lizaad Williams were replaced by Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Corbin Bosch.

CSK vs MI Free Live Streaming || When and where to watch Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 live online

After going unsold in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league" rel="dofollow">Indian Premier League</a> auction, seam-bowling all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shardul-thakur">Shardul Thakur</a> is set to make a comeback, joining Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan.
LSG confirmed the signing in an official statement, announcing that Thakur was brought in from the registered available player pool at his base price of $23 million. The 33-year-old all-rounder replaces left-arm pacer Mohsin, who has been ruled out of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to injury.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/days-after-divorce-chahals-old-marriage-post-sends-internet-into-frenzy-8881789">Days after divorce, Chahal&rsquo;s old &lsquo;marriage&rsquo; post sends internet into frenzy</a>
Thakur, who recently showcased stellar form in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai&mdash;scoring 505 runs and taking 35 wickets in nine matches after recovering from foot surgery&mdash;had earlier signed with Essex for county cricket. His vast IPL experience includes stints with five franchises: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rising Pune Supergiant. In 95 IPL appearances, he has picked 67 wickets with an economy rate of 8.89.
<h2>See Shardul during practice sesison with LSG:</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
You say strike, we hear Shardul 💪🤩 <a href="https://t.co/mHG0RT0WUW">pic.twitter.com/mHG0RT0WUW</a>
&mdash; Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucknowIPL/status/1903689028714582192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

LSG, under their new captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a>, will kick off their campaign against Delhi Capitals on Monday, March 24, in Visakhapatnam.
Meanwhile, Mohsin Khan, who reportedly sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December, remains with the LSG camp for rehabilitation. According to an ESPNcricinfo report, he will work closely with the team&rsquo;s support staff on his recovery plan.
<h2>Lack of pacers at LSG</h2>
Besides him, LSG&rsquo;s premier Indian pacers, including Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan, continue to recover from their respective injuries at BCCI&rsquo;s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru; all three are yet to link up with the squad.&nbsp;
Zaheer Khan, LSG mentor, also spoke on the same lines. Without sharing many details on their match fitness, Zaheer underlined the side&rsquo;s approach this season as their chase for their maiden IPL title continues.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Lucknow Super Giants brought Shardul Thakur from the registered available player pool at his base price of $23 million in place of injured Mohsin Khan

After going unsold in the Indian Premier League auction, seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur is set to make a comeback, joining Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan. LSG confirmed the signing in an official statement, announcing that Thakur was brought in from the registered available player pool at his base price of $23 million. The 33-year-old all-rounder replaces left-arm pacer Mohsin, who has been ruled out of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to injury. Also Read: Days after divorce, Chahal’s old ‘marriage’ post sends internet into frenzy Thakur, who recently showcased stellar form in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai—scoring 505 runs and taking 35 wickets in nine matches after recovering from foot surgery—had earlier signed with Essex for county cricket. His vast IPL experience includes stints with five franchises: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rising Pune Supergiant. In 95 IPL appearances, he has picked 67 wickets with an economy rate of 8.89. See Shardul during practice sesison with LSG: You say strike, we hear Shardul 💪🤩 pic.twitter.com/mHG0RT0WUW — Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 23, 2025 LSG, under their new captain Rishabh Pant, will kick off their campaign against Delhi Capitals on Monday, March 24, in Visakhapatnam. Meanwhile, Mohsin Khan, who reportedly sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December, remains with the LSG camp for rehabilitation. According to an ESPNcricinfo report, he will work closely with the team’s support staff on his recovery plan. Lack of pacers at LSG Besides him, LSG’s premier Indian pacers, including Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan, continue to recover from their respective injuries at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru; all three are yet to link up with the squad. Zaheer Khan, LSG mentor, also spoke on the same lines. Without sharing many details on their match fitness, Zaheer underlined the side’s approach this season as their chase for their maiden IPL title continues. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Shardul Thakur to join LSG after Mohsin ruled out due to injury

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuzvendra-chahal">Yuzvendra Chahal</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/dhanashree-verma">Dhanashree Verma</a>&rsquo;s divorce continues to grab headlines after their official split on Thursday (March 20). The court, granted decree to the couple on the joint petition filed for divorce by mutual consent. The news was confirmed by Nitin Kumar Gupta, Chahal's lawyer, while speaking to the media outside the court.
Amid the unfolding drama, an old screenshot from Chahal&rsquo;s X (formerly Twitter) account is going viral. Dated 2013, the post controversially claimed that &ldquo;MARRIAGE is just a fancy word for adopting an over-grown male child who can't be handled by his parents anymore,&rdquo; implying that marriage is merely a euphemism for a woman taking responsibility for a man-child no longer managed by his mother.
The couple, who married in December 2020 in Gurgaon, had quickly become social media darlings. However, by 2023, their online interactions grew scarce and cryptic, sparking rumors about their deteriorating relationship. The speculations intensified when Chahal deleted all couple photos from social platforms and both unfollowed each other on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/instagram">Instagram</a>.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-did-rinku-singh-snub-virat-kohli-handshake-controversy-sparks-debate-in-opener-watch-8881738">IPL 2025: Did Rinku Singh snub Virat Kohli? Handshake controversy sparks debate in opener- WATCH</a>
In February 2025, the pair were seen outside the Bandra Family Court filing for divorce by mutual consent. Their request to waive the six-month cooling-off period was denied by the court, and after 18 months of living apart, their separation was finalized on March 20, 2025. Reports claim that Chahal paid $55 million as alimony to Verma.
<h2>See the cryptic post on X here:</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hmmmm <a href="https://t.co/leP0HK6SBJ">pic.twitter.com/leP0HK6SBJ</a>
&mdash; Oksana (@fadednailpaint) <a href="https://twitter.com/fadednailpaint/status/1902837501741633955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

Recently, as Dhanashree promoted her new music video &ldquo;Dekha Ji Dekha Maine&rdquo; on Instagram, the conversation shifted from her song to the financial details of the divorce. Commenters took to social media to highlight the alimony amount, with one sarcastically asking, &ldquo;Ma'am, did you receive the ₹4.75 crore in your account?&rdquo; while another questioned, &ldquo;Why did you take ₹4 crore?&rdquo;

Sports, Cricket: Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma officially parted ways on Thursday (March 20), and their divorce continues to make headlines

Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma’s divorce continues to grab headlines after their official split on Thursday (March 20). The court, granted decree to the couple on the joint petition filed for divorce by mutual consent. The news was confirmed by Nitin Kumar Gupta, Chahal's lawyer, while speaking to the media outside the court. Amid the unfolding drama, an old screenshot from Chahal’s X (formerly Twitter) account is going viral. Dated 2013, the post controversially claimed that “MARRIAGE is just a fancy word for adopting an over-grown male child who can't be handled by his parents anymore,” implying that marriage is merely a euphemism for a woman taking responsibility for a man-child no longer managed by his mother. The couple, who married in December 2020 in Gurgaon, had quickly become social media darlings. However, by 2023, their online interactions grew scarce and cryptic, sparking rumors about their deteriorating relationship. The speculations intensified when Chahal deleted all couple photos from social platforms and both unfollowed each other on Instagram. Also Read: IPL 2025: Did Rinku Singh snub Virat Kohli? Handshake controversy sparks debate in opener- WATCH In February 2025, the pair were seen outside the Bandra Family Court filing for divorce by mutual consent. Their request to waive the six-month cooling-off period was denied by the court, and after 18 months of living apart, their separation was finalized on March 20, 2025. Reports claim that Chahal paid $55 million as alimony to Verma. See the cryptic post on X here: Hmmmm pic.twitter.com/leP0HK6SBJ — Oksana (@fadednailpaint) March 20, 2025 Recently, as Dhanashree promoted her new music video “Dekha Ji Dekha Maine” on Instagram, the conversation shifted from her song to the financial details of the divorce. Commenters took to social media to highlight the alimony amount, with one sarcastically asking, “Ma'am, did you receive the ₹4.75 crore in your account?” while another questioned, “Why did you take ₹4 crore?”

Days after divorce, Chahal’s old ‘marriage’ post sends internet into frenzy

During the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> 2025 opening ceremony at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, an incident involving Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rinku-singh">Rinku Singh</a> and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a> caught fans' attention. As Bollywood superstar and KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan invited both players on stage, Rinku shook hands with Shah Rukh but appeared to walk past Kohli, who had extended his hand for a handshake. ​
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-rahane-calls-for-spin-friendly-pitch-at-eden-gardens-after-kkrs-loss-to-rcb-8881652">IPL 2025: Rahane calls for spin-friendly pitch at Eden Gardens after KKR&rsquo;s loss to RCB</a>
This moment sparked discussions on social media, with fans debating whether Rinku intentionally ignored Kohli or simply missed the gesture. Despite this, the ceremony continued with both players participating in light-hearted activities, including dancing to popular Bollywood tracks alongside Shah Rukh Khan. ​
<h2>See the video here:&nbsp;</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Rinku singh ignored Virat Kohli 💔 <a href="https://t.co/qg1IAvXKOU">pic.twitter.com/qg1IAvXKOU</a>
&mdash; Ankit Sheoran (@sheoranankit_) <a href="https://twitter.com/sheoranankit_/status/1903503546521420278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

Interestingly, Rinku and Kohli share a good rapport. Last year, Kohli even gifted one of his bats to Rinku. Therefore, the incident is likely to be a simple misunderstanding rather than a deliberate snub.
<h2>Hazlewood sets tone for RCB</h2>
Josh Hazlewood set the tone for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their IPL 2025 opener with a commanding bowling display that put Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the defensive. Leading RCB&rsquo;s pace attack, he struck in the first and final overs, finishing with impressive figures of 2/22.
Beyond just taking wickets&mdash;dismissing Quinton de Kock early and Harshit Rana at the death&mdash;Hazlewood&rsquo;s precision in line and length made the real difference. He delivered 16 dot balls, maintained a remarkable economy rate of 5.50, and stood out as the best fast bowler of the match. His success stemmed from disciplined bowling, focusing on short and short-of-good-length deliveries while rarely pitching it up.
After the match, Hazlewood explained that his strategy was dictated by the conditions. With the pitch under covers for nearly two days, he anticipated moisture in the surface, which played to his strengths. His approach ensured KKR struggled early, managing just nine runs in the first three overs.
"It was more based on pitch and conditions," Hazlewood said in the post-match press conference, as quoted saying to ESPNcricinfo.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: The incident from the IPL 2025 opening ceremony, featuring Virat Kohli, Rinku Singh and Shah Rukh Khan, has gone viral on social media platforms

During the Indian Premier League 2025 opening ceremony at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, an incident involving Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) Rinku Singh and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Virat Kohli caught fans' attention. As Bollywood superstar and KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan invited both players on stage, Rinku shook hands with Shah Rukh but appeared to walk past Kohli, who had extended his hand for a handshake. Also Read: IPL 2025: Rahane calls for spin-friendly pitch at Eden Gardens after KKR’s loss to RCB This moment sparked discussions on social media, with fans debating whether Rinku intentionally ignored Kohli or simply missed the gesture. Despite this, the ceremony continued with both players participating in light-hearted activities, including dancing to popular Bollywood tracks alongside Shah Rukh Khan. See the video here: Rinku singh ignored Virat Kohli 💔 pic.twitter.com/qg1IAvXKOU — Ankit Sheoran (@sheoranankit_) March 22, 2025 Interestingly, Rinku and Kohli share a good rapport. Last year, Kohli even gifted one of his bats to Rinku. Therefore, the incident is likely to be a simple misunderstanding rather than a deliberate snub. Hazlewood sets tone for RCB Josh Hazlewood set the tone for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their IPL 2025 opener with a commanding bowling display that put Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the defensive. Leading RCB’s pace attack, he struck in the first and final overs, finishing with impressive figures of 2/22. Beyond just taking wickets—dismissing Quinton de Kock early and Harshit Rana at the death—Hazlewood’s precision in line and length made the real difference. He delivered 16 dot balls, maintained a remarkable economy rate of 5.50, and stood out as the best fast bowler of the match. His success stemmed from disciplined bowling, focusing on short and short-of-good-length deliveries while rarely pitching it up. After the match, Hazlewood explained that his strategy was dictated by the conditions. With the pitch under covers for nearly two days, he anticipated moisture in the surface, which played to his strengths. His approach ensured KKR struggled early, managing just nine runs in the first three overs. "It was more based on pitch and conditions," Hazlewood said in the post-match press conference, as quoted saying to ESPNcricinfo. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Did Rinku Singh snub Virat Kohli? Handshake controversy sparks debate in opener- WATCH

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</a> admitted that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/eden-gardens">Eden Gardens</a> pitch played differently than usual in their IPL 2025 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Traditionally known to assist spinners, the surface offered little turn, affecting KKR&rsquo;s spin-heavy bowling attack in their seven-wicket defeat.
Rahane attributed the change in conditions to persistent rain, which kept the wicket under covers for nearly two days. This led to early moisture, favoring RCB&rsquo;s fast bowlers, particularly Josh Hazlewood, who made full use of the conditions.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-theres-something-special-about-this-rcb-team-this-year-says-former-australian-opening-batter-matthew-hayden-8881570">IPL 2025: 'There's something special about this RCB team this year', says former Australian opening batter Matthew Hayden</a>
"We would love to see a pitch that helps spin bowlers, but this wicket was under covers for the last one and a half days," Rahane said in the post-match press conference. "There was some moisture when we started our batting, and Hazlewood used the conditions really well."
<h2>'Pitch played different due to rain'</h2>
KKR&rsquo;s spin duo, Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, struggled to extract their usual turn. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/varun-chakaravarthy">Chakravarthy</a>, coming off a strong Champions Trophy campaign, conceded 43 runs in four overs, while Narine finished with 1 for 27. Their combined two wickets were a stark contrast to their usual impact.
Despite the setback, Rahane backed his spinners. "No complaints. Both our spinners are of great quality; they can bowl on any kind of wicket. I'm sure they are confident as well, but yes, the pitch played differently because of the rain," he added.
Chasing 175, RCB openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli (59*) gave a flying start, taking their side to 80/0 in the powerplay. Salt&rsquo;s explosive hitting dismantled Chakravarthy in the fourth over, hammering 21 runs.
Though KKR managed breakthroughs later, the damage was done. Salt fell after scoring a quick-fire fifty, while Devdutt Padikkal (19) was caught off Narine. Kohli, staying true to his "chase master' reputation, reached his half-century in style with a lofted boundary over covers.
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar (34) played a quick cameo before losing his wicket to Vaibhav Arora. Liam Livingstone (15*) finished the chase with a flourish, sealing a seven-wicket win.
KKR will look to bounce back when they face Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on Wednesday (March 26).
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Traditionally known to assist spinners, the surface offered little turn, affecting KKR’s spin-heavy bowling attack in their seven-wicket defeat

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted that the Eden Gardens pitch played differently than usual in their IPL 2025 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Traditionally known to assist spinners, the surface offered little turn, affecting KKR’s spin-heavy bowling attack in their seven-wicket defeat. Rahane attributed the change in conditions to persistent rain, which kept the wicket under covers for nearly two days. This led to early moisture, favoring RCB’s fast bowlers, particularly Josh Hazlewood, who made full use of the conditions. Also Read: IPL 2025: 'There's something special about this RCB team this year', says former Australian opening batter Matthew Hayden "We would love to see a pitch that helps spin bowlers, but this wicket was under covers for the last one and a half days," Rahane said in the post-match press conference. "There was some moisture when we started our batting, and Hazlewood used the conditions really well." 'Pitch played different due to rain' KKR’s spin duo, Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, struggled to extract their usual turn. Chakravarthy, coming off a strong Champions Trophy campaign, conceded 43 runs in four overs, while Narine finished with 1 for 27. Their combined two wickets were a stark contrast to their usual impact. Despite the setback, Rahane backed his spinners. "No complaints. Both our spinners are of great quality; they can bowl on any kind of wicket. I'm sure they are confident as well, but yes, the pitch played differently because of the rain," he added. Chasing 175, RCB openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli (59*) gave a flying start, taking their side to 80/0 in the powerplay. Salt’s explosive hitting dismantled Chakravarthy in the fourth over, hammering 21 runs. Though KKR managed breakthroughs later, the damage was done. Salt fell after scoring a quick-fire fifty, while Devdutt Padikkal (19) was caught off Narine. Kohli, staying true to his "chase master' reputation, reached his half-century in style with a lofted boundary over covers. RCB skipper Rajat Patidar (34) played a quick cameo before losing his wicket to Vaibhav Arora. Liam Livingstone (15*) finished the chase with a flourish, sealing a seven-wicket win. KKR will look to bounce back when they face Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on Wednesday (March 26). (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Rahane calls for spin-friendly pitch at Eden Gardens after KKR’s loss to RCB

The highly anticipated 18th season of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league" rel="dofollow">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) has begun, bringing with it thrilling cricketing action, record-breaking performances, and edge-of-the-seat entertainment. In the opening match, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) delivered a dominating win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), setting the stage for an exhilarating tournament. Following the match, cricketing legends and JioStar experts Sunil Gavaskar and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/matthew-hayden">Matthew Hayden</a> provided in-depth analysis exclusively on JioHotstar, dissecting key performances and strategic takeaways.
Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar praised the performances of Rajat Patidar and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a>, emphasising their strong rapport. He said, &ldquo;Rajat Patidar has spent considerable time playing under Virat Kohli, which has helped him settle in seamlessly. Kohli&rsquo;s presence gave him confidence, and Patidar responded with an outstanding knock. The way he stroked the ball and made it look effortless was commendable."
"Additionally, RCB&rsquo;s ability to restrict KKR from what seemed like a 200-210 total to just 175 was crucial. Rajat Patidar&rsquo;s captaincy was impressive&mdash;his bowling changes were spot on, and his performance as a batter was equally impactful," he added.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-fan-breaches-security-at-eden-gardens-to-touch-virat-kohlis-feet-during-kkr-rcb-opener-watch-8881428">IPL 2025: Fan breaches security at Eden Gardens to touch Virat Kohli's feet during KKR-RCB opener-WATCH</a>
Gavaskar also highlighted the evolving aggressive approach of IPL batters.&nbsp;&ldquo;Players are becoming more adventurous, understanding the importance of capitalizing on the powerplay. With only two fielders outside the inner circle, teams must aim for 10-12 runs per over in the first six overs, targeting 60-75 runs even at the cost of one wicket. This provides a strong foundation to push for totals around 180-200, he said.
<h2>'Kohli's partnership with Salt was key'</h2>
Meanwhile, Matthew Hayden analysed Virat Kohli&rsquo;s performance while chasing. The former Australia opener said,&nbsp;&ldquo;This was the ideal total for Virat Kohli to chase. He thrives in scenarios where the target is around par or slightly above. His strike rate, particularly in the middle overs, was exceptional&mdash;maintaining over 170, which was exactly what was required."
"His partnership with Phil Salt was also key, as Salt&rsquo;s role in increasing the scoring rate complemented Kohli&rsquo;s approach. We&rsquo;re witnessing &lsquo;Virat Kohli 2.0&rsquo;&mdash;he remains dominant in powerplays but has now enhanced his effectiveness in the middle overs as well," he added.
Hayden further stressed the significance of net run rate in the IPL.&nbsp;&ldquo;Every season, net run rate plays a critical role. Last year, RCB had to make a late surge, and net run rate proved decisive. This season, too, it will be a crucial factor in the playoff race.&rdquo;
The Australian also discussed the influence of Krunal Pandya. &ldquo;Krunal Pandya was a brilliant selection. His variations, change of pace, and ability to attack the stumps made a significant impact. Experience is invaluable in high-pressure situations, and he demonstrated great composure. At one stage, RCB seemed to be struggling, but their resilience and comeback were remarkable.&rdquo;

Sports, Cricket: Sunil Gavaskar praised the performances of Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli, while Matthew Hayden praised Virat Kohli’s performance while chasing

The highly anticipated 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has begun, bringing with it thrilling cricketing action, record-breaking performances, and edge-of-the-seat entertainment. In the opening match, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) delivered a dominating win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), setting the stage for an exhilarating tournament. Following the match, cricketing legends and JioStar experts Sunil Gavaskar and Matthew Hayden provided in-depth analysis exclusively on JioHotstar, dissecting key performances and strategic takeaways. Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar praised the performances of Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli, emphasising their strong rapport. He said, “Rajat Patidar has spent considerable time playing under Virat Kohli, which has helped him settle in seamlessly. Kohli’s presence gave him confidence, and Patidar responded with an outstanding knock. The way he stroked the ball and made it look effortless was commendable." "Additionally, RCB’s ability to restrict KKR from what seemed like a 200-210 total to just 175 was crucial. Rajat Patidar’s captaincy was impressive—his bowling changes were spot on, and his performance as a batter was equally impactful," he added. Also Read: IPL 2025: Fan breaches security at Eden Gardens to touch Virat Kohli's feet during KKR-RCB opener-WATCH Gavaskar also highlighted the evolving aggressive approach of IPL batters. “Players are becoming more adventurous, understanding the importance of capitalizing on the powerplay. With only two fielders outside the inner circle, teams must aim for 10-12 runs per over in the first six overs, targeting 60-75 runs even at the cost of one wicket. This provides a strong foundation to push for totals around 180-200, he said. 'Kohli's partnership with Salt was key' Meanwhile, Matthew Hayden analysed Virat Kohli’s performance while chasing. The former Australia opener said, “This was the ideal total for Virat Kohli to chase. He thrives in scenarios where the target is around par or slightly above. His strike rate, particularly in the middle overs, was exceptional—maintaining over 170, which was exactly what was required." "His partnership with Phil Salt was also key, as Salt’s role in increasing the scoring rate complemented Kohli’s approach. We’re witnessing ‘Virat Kohli 2.0’—he remains dominant in powerplays but has now enhanced his effectiveness in the middle overs as well," he added. Hayden further stressed the significance of net run rate in the IPL. “Every season, net run rate plays a critical role. Last year, RCB had to make a late surge, and net run rate proved decisive. This season, too, it will be a crucial factor in the playoff race.” The Australian also discussed the influence of Krunal Pandya. “Krunal Pandya was a brilliant selection. His variations, change of pace, and ability to attack the stumps made a significant impact. Experience is invaluable in high-pressure situations, and he demonstrated great composure. At one stage, RCB seemed to be struggling, but their resilience and comeback were remarkable.”

IPL 2025: 'There's something special about this RCB team this year', says former Australian opening batter Matthew Hayden

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league" rel="dofollow">Indian Premier League</a> 2025 opener at Eden Gardens witnessed a dramatic moment when an ardent fan breached security and rushed onto the field to touch <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a>&rsquo;s feet. The incident occurred during Royal Challengers Bengaluru&rsquo;s (RCB) match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), leaving players and security personnel stunned.
As Kohli was standing on the pitch after completing his fifty, an enthusiastic spectator dashed onto the field, bypassing multiple layers of security. The pitch invader immediately fell to his knees and grabbed Kohli&rsquo;s feet, refusing to let go for several moments. The emotional moment, captured on live television, quickly went viral on social media.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-why-not-use-it-krunal-pandya-on-his-surprise-bouncer-to-venkatesh-iyer-8881365">IPL 2025: 'Why not use it?'&ndash; Krunal Pandya on his surprise bouncer to Venkatesh Iyer</a>
Despite the sudden intrusion, Kohli remained composed and gently gestured for the fan to move away. Security personnel soon intervened, escorting the individual off the field. The entire episode disrupted play briefly but highlighted the immense admiration that Kohli commands among cricket fans worldwide.
<h2>Watch the video here:</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
MrBeast wasn&rsquo;t wrong when he said Indians worship Virat Kohli.🥹❤️ <a href="https://t.co/XHVwYd5tQY">pic.twitter.com/XHVwYd5tQY</a>
&mdash; Nikhil (@TheCric8Boy) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheCric8Boy/status/1903499236890853857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
This isn&rsquo;t the first time a fan has shown such devotion to Kohli, but it certainly stands out due to the sheer determination displayed by the intruder. The video of the incident has been widely shared across various platforms, with many praising Kohli&rsquo;s calm demeanor and others questioning the stadium&rsquo;s security measures.
The breach raised concerns about safety protocols at high-profile cricket matches, especially in packed venues like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/eden-gardens">Eden Gardens</a>. The IPL authorities and stadium officials are expected to review security arrangements to prevent such incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, on the cricketing front, Kohli&rsquo;s innings played a crucial role in RCB&rsquo;s performance in the high-voltage clash against KKR. His return to Eden Gardens was marked by another masterclass with the bat, further solidifying his stature as one of the league&rsquo;s biggest icons.

Sports, Cricket: During the match, a fan breached security and went inside he ground to meet him. He touched Kohli's feet and refused to let go of the star

The Indian Premier League 2025 opener at Eden Gardens witnessed a dramatic moment when an ardent fan breached security and rushed onto the field to touch Virat Kohli’s feet. The incident occurred during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), leaving players and security personnel stunned. As Kohli was standing on the pitch after completing his fifty, an enthusiastic spectator dashed onto the field, bypassing multiple layers of security. The pitch invader immediately fell to his knees and grabbed Kohli’s feet, refusing to let go for several moments. The emotional moment, captured on live television, quickly went viral on social media. Also Read: IPL 2025: 'Why not use it?'– Krunal Pandya on his surprise bouncer to Venkatesh Iyer Despite the sudden intrusion, Kohli remained composed and gently gestured for the fan to move away. Security personnel soon intervened, escorting the individual off the field. The entire episode disrupted play briefly but highlighted the immense admiration that Kohli commands among cricket fans worldwide. Watch the video here: MrBeast wasn’t wrong when he said Indians worship Virat Kohli.🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/XHVwYd5tQY — Nikhil (@TheCric8Boy) March 22, 2025 This isn’t the first time a fan has shown such devotion to Kohli, but it certainly stands out due to the sheer determination displayed by the intruder. The video of the incident has been widely shared across various platforms, with many praising Kohli’s calm demeanor and others questioning the stadium’s security measures. The breach raised concerns about safety protocols at high-profile cricket matches, especially in packed venues like Eden Gardens. The IPL authorities and stadium officials are expected to review security arrangements to prevent such incidents in the future. Meanwhile, on the cricketing front, Kohli’s innings played a crucial role in RCB’s performance in the high-voltage clash against KKR. His return to Eden Gardens was marked by another masterclass with the bat, further solidifying his stature as one of the league’s biggest icons.

IPL 2025: Fan breaches security at Eden Gardens to touch Virat Kohli's feet during KKR-RCB opener-WATCH

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/krunal-pandya">Krunal Pandya</a> shared his thought process behind delivering an unexpected bouncer to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> (KKR) batter Venkatesh Iyer during the opening match of Indian Premier League 2025.
In the 12th over of KKR&rsquo;s innings, Venkatesh walked to the crease without wearing a helmet. Sensing an opportunity, Krunal bowled a sharp bouncer. However, Venkatesh read it early and avoided any trouble. The very next ball, now with his helmet on, the southpaw attempted a wristy shot but ended up dragging the ball onto his stumps.
Speaking about his strategy in the post-match presentation, Krunal said, "Whether it's a wide yorker or a bouncer, if you have something in your arsenal, why not use it?"
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-learning-from-the-best-rcb-captain-applauds-virat-kohlis-unbeaten-fifty-in-curtain-raiser-8881337">IPL 2025: 'Learning from the best', RCB captain applauds Virat Kohli&rsquo;s unbeaten fifty in curtain-raiser</a>
Krunal&rsquo;s brilliance wasn&rsquo;t limited to that one dismissal. Earlier, he claimed the crucial wicket of KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, who was in destructive form, striking boundaries with ease. Rahane, on 56 off 31 balls, miscued a shot straight into the hands of Rasikh Salam, courtesy of Krunal&rsquo;s well-crafted plan.
The left-arm spinner wrapped up his spell with another key scalp, clean bowling <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rinku-singh">Rinku Singh</a> with a quicker delivery that skidded past the batter&rsquo;s attempted pull shot. Finishing with figures of 3/29, Krunal was named Player of the Match for his match-winning performance.
<h2>'My focus is on bowling quicker'</h2>
Reflecting on his approach, he emphasised the importance of adaptability in modern cricket.&nbsp;"When you play in front of such a big crowd, you have to narrow your focus. If I get hit, it should be off a good ball. Batters today have the skill to hit sixes consistently, so as a bowler, you need to evolve. That&rsquo;s why I focus on bowling quicker and using variations. Change of pace isn&rsquo;t just for pacers; I try it too," he explained.
Krunal, who was acquired by RCB from Lucknow Super Giants for $66 million in the mega auction, also spoke about his short but thrilling stint with the franchise so far:&nbsp;"It&rsquo;s been amazing. The energy around RCB is unreal. Even in domestic cricket, you hear fans chanting &lsquo;RCB.&rsquo; It&rsquo;s been just 10 days since I joined, and I&rsquo;m loving it."
Thanks to Krunal&rsquo;s stellar bowling, KKR managed only 174/8. In response, RCB&rsquo;s opening duo of Virat Kohli and Philip Salt set the stage for an easy chase, stitching together a commanding 95-run partnership.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: In the 12th over of KKR’s innings, Venkatesh walked to the crease without wearing a helmet. Sensing an opportunity, Krunal bowled a sharp bouncer

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Krunal Pandya shared his thought process behind delivering an unexpected bouncer to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Venkatesh Iyer during the opening match of Indian Premier League 2025. In the 12th over of KKR’s innings, Venkatesh walked to the crease without wearing a helmet. Sensing an opportunity, Krunal bowled a sharp bouncer. However, Venkatesh read it early and avoided any trouble. The very next ball, now with his helmet on, the southpaw attempted a wristy shot but ended up dragging the ball onto his stumps. Speaking about his strategy in the post-match presentation, Krunal said, "Whether it's a wide yorker or a bouncer, if you have something in your arsenal, why not use it?" Also Read: IPL 2025: 'Learning from the best', RCB captain applauds Virat Kohli’s unbeaten fifty in curtain-raiser Krunal’s brilliance wasn’t limited to that one dismissal. Earlier, he claimed the crucial wicket of KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, who was in destructive form, striking boundaries with ease. Rahane, on 56 off 31 balls, miscued a shot straight into the hands of Rasikh Salam, courtesy of Krunal’s well-crafted plan. The left-arm spinner wrapped up his spell with another key scalp, clean bowling Rinku Singh with a quicker delivery that skidded past the batter’s attempted pull shot. Finishing with figures of 3/29, Krunal was named Player of the Match for his match-winning performance. 'My focus is on bowling quicker' Reflecting on his approach, he emphasised the importance of adaptability in modern cricket. "When you play in front of such a big crowd, you have to narrow your focus. If I get hit, it should be off a good ball. Batters today have the skill to hit sixes consistently, so as a bowler, you need to evolve. That’s why I focus on bowling quicker and using variations. Change of pace isn’t just for pacers; I try it too," he explained. Krunal, who was acquired by RCB from Lucknow Super Giants for $66 million in the mega auction, also spoke about his short but thrilling stint with the franchise so far: "It’s been amazing. The energy around RCB is unreal. Even in domestic cricket, you hear fans chanting ‘RCB.’ It’s been just 10 days since I joined, and I’m loving it." Thanks to Krunal’s stellar bowling, KKR managed only 174/8. In response, RCB’s opening duo of Virat Kohli and Philip Salt set the stage for an easy chase, stitching together a commanding 95-run partnership. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'Why not use it?'– Krunal Pandya on his surprise bouncer to Venkatesh Iyer

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) began their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) 2025 campaign with a commanding seven-wicket victory over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens. Skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rajat-patidar">Rajat Patidar</a> celebrated his debut as RCB captain with a memorable win, while <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</a> faced defeat in his first match as KKR skipper.
Following the match, Patidar praised star batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a> for his unbeaten knock, which played a crucial role in the victory. "There was pressure, but it was a good day for me. If we keep winning like this, it will be even better. I fully backed Suyash despite him conceding runs because he was our main wicket-taker. Credit goes to the bowlers for their courage and determination. Having a player like Kohli in the team is a great opportunity for me to learn from one of the best in the game," Patidar said at the post-match presentation.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-kkr-captain-ajinkya-rahane-pinpoints-game-changing-moment-in-defeat-against-rcb-8881320">IPL 2025: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane pinpoints game-changing moment in defeat against RCB</a>
Kohli remained unbeaten on 59 off 36 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. With this innings, he became the third batter to score 1,000 runs against KKR, joining David Warner (1,093) and Rohit Sharma (1,070).
<h2>King Kohli honoured</h2>
Before the season opener, Kohli was honored with an 'IPL 18' memento by BCCI president Roger Binny, recognising his long-standing contribution to the league. Having been with RCB since the tournament's inception, Kohli is the highest run-scorer in IPL history, making 8,004 runs in 252 matches, including eight centuries and 55 half-centuries. His phenomenal 2016 season, where he scored 973 runs with four centuries, remains unmatched, though an IPL title has eluded him.
The match also marked Kohli&rsquo;s 400th appearance in T20 cricket. Before the felicitation, he delighted fans by dancing with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Shah Rukh welcomed Kohli on stage with an electrifying introduction: "The King of 22 yards and a billion hearts. Let's hear it for the GOAT, Virat Kohli."
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Kohli remained unbeaten on 59. With this innings, he became the third batter to score 1,000 runs against KKR, joining David Warner and Rohit Sharma

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) began their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign with a commanding seven-wicket victory over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens. Skipper Rajat Patidar celebrated his debut as RCB captain with a memorable win, while Ajinkya Rahane faced defeat in his first match as KKR skipper. Following the match, Patidar praised star batter Virat Kohli for his unbeaten knock, which played a crucial role in the victory. "There was pressure, but it was a good day for me. If we keep winning like this, it will be even better. I fully backed Suyash despite him conceding runs because he was our main wicket-taker. Credit goes to the bowlers for their courage and determination. Having a player like Kohli in the team is a great opportunity for me to learn from one of the best in the game," Patidar said at the post-match presentation. Also Read: IPL 2025: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane pinpoints game-changing moment in defeat against RCB Kohli remained unbeaten on 59 off 36 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. With this innings, he became the third batter to score 1,000 runs against KKR, joining David Warner (1,093) and Rohit Sharma (1,070). King Kohli honoured Before the season opener, Kohli was honored with an 'IPL 18' memento by BCCI president Roger Binny, recognising his long-standing contribution to the league. Having been with RCB since the tournament's inception, Kohli is the highest run-scorer in IPL history, making 8,004 runs in 252 matches, including eight centuries and 55 half-centuries. His phenomenal 2016 season, where he scored 973 runs with four centuries, remains unmatched, though an IPL title has eluded him. The match also marked Kohli’s 400th appearance in T20 cricket. Before the felicitation, he delighted fans by dancing with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Shah Rukh welcomed Kohli on stage with an electrifying introduction: "The King of 22 yards and a billion hearts. Let's hear it for the GOAT, Virat Kohli." (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'Learning from the best', RCB captain applauds Virat Kohli’s unbeaten fifty in curtain-raiser

In a disappointing start to their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) campaign, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> (KKR) suffered a 7-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens. Captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</a> pointed to a crucial moment in the first innings that shifted the game&rsquo;s momentum away from the defending champions.
After being put in to bat, KKR struggled early against Josh Hazlewood&rsquo;s sharp bowling. However, Rahane and Sunil Narine counterattacked, propelling the team to a promising 107/1 in 9.5 overs. Just when KKR seemed poised for a big total, RCB struck back. Rasikh Salam dismissed Narine for 44, opening the floodgates. Krunal Pandya then inflicted further damage, removing key batters in quick succession, leaving KKR stumbling at 145/5.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-be-wary-of-srh-approach-will-be-ultra-aggressive-coach-daniel-vettori-to-all-teams-8880748">IPL 2025: Be wary of SRH's ultra-aggressive approach, coach Daniel Vettori warns all teams</a>
Rahane reflected on this phase as the moment that derailed their innings. &ldquo;We were going well till the 13th over, but those 2-3 quick wickets completely changed the momentum. Venky (Venkatesh Iyer) and I believed 200-210 was possible, but after those dismissals, we couldn't recover,&rdquo; Rahane said in the post-match presentation.
<h2>Rahane optimistic&nbsp;</h2>
KKR eventually managed only 174/8, a total that proved insufficient against RCB&rsquo;s explosive batting. Openers Philip Salt and Virat Kohli dismantled KKR&rsquo;s bowling attack, putting on a 95-run stand that silenced the Eden Gardens crowd and shifted the chants in RCB&rsquo;s favor. With a commanding chase, RCB cruised to victory with seven wickets in hand.
Despite the loss, Rahane remained optimistic about improving in key areas. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t want to dwell too much on this game, but we&rsquo;ll look to get better in certain aspects,&rdquo; he added.
As KKR regroups for the next match, addressing their mid-innings collapse and bowling vulnerabilities will be crucial in bouncing back from this setback.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Just when Kolkata Knight Riders seemed poised for a big total, RCB struck back. Rasikh Salam dismissed Sunil Narine for 44, opening the floodgates

In a disappointing start to their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) suffered a 7-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens. Captain Ajinkya Rahane pointed to a crucial moment in the first innings that shifted the game’s momentum away from the defending champions. After being put in to bat, KKR struggled early against Josh Hazlewood’s sharp bowling. However, Rahane and Sunil Narine counterattacked, propelling the team to a promising 107/1 in 9.5 overs. Just when KKR seemed poised for a big total, RCB struck back. Rasikh Salam dismissed Narine for 44, opening the floodgates. Krunal Pandya then inflicted further damage, removing key batters in quick succession, leaving KKR stumbling at 145/5. Also Read: IPL 2025: Be wary of SRH's ultra-aggressive approach, coach Daniel Vettori warns all teams Rahane reflected on this phase as the moment that derailed their innings. “We were going well till the 13th over, but those 2-3 quick wickets completely changed the momentum. Venky (Venkatesh Iyer) and I believed 200-210 was possible, but after those dismissals, we couldn't recover,” Rahane said in the post-match presentation. Rahane optimistic KKR eventually managed only 174/8, a total that proved insufficient against RCB’s explosive batting. Openers Philip Salt and Virat Kohli dismantled KKR’s bowling attack, putting on a 95-run stand that silenced the Eden Gardens crowd and shifted the chants in RCB’s favor. With a commanding chase, RCB cruised to victory with seven wickets in hand. Despite the loss, Rahane remained optimistic about improving in key areas. “We don’t want to dwell too much on this game, but we’ll look to get better in certain aspects,” he added. As KKR regroups for the next match, addressing their mid-innings collapse and bowling vulnerabilities will be crucial in bouncing back from this setback. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane pinpoints game-changing moment in defeat against RCB

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli</a> scored his first fifty of the season, an unbeaten 59, but Krunal Pandya&rsquo;s heroics with the ball in the first innings laid the platform for a comfortable win for the RCB over KKR in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a> opener. On Saturday (Mar 22) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Bengaluru prevailed by seven wickets, as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rajat-patidar" rel="dofollow">Rajat Patidar</a> began his captaincy tenure with a victory.
KKR vs RCB at the Eden was always going to be a blockbuster, and it didn&rsquo;t disappoint. Game one of IPL 2025 was a cracker but heartbreak for the home fans as KKR lost their first match of the season.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-be-wary-of-srh-approach-will-be-ultra-aggressive-coach-daniel-vettori-to-all-teams-8880748" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: Be wary of SRH's ultra-aggressive approach, coach Daniel Vettori warns all teams</a>
Sent to bat first after losing the toss, KKR lost opener Quinton de Kock inside the first over. Newly-appointed captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine steadied the ship, with Rahane taking all bowlers to cleaners. He smashed the first six of the tournament, adding three more in his 103-run stand with Narine for the second wicket.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8khsqm4-y3co0t2u-03hsdexv">
MAXIMUM! 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AjinkyaRahane?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AjinkyaRahane</a> picks the length early and whacks <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RasikhSalam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RasikhSalam</a> for the first six of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> 2025! 🙌🏻 Watch LIVE action: <a href="https://t.co/iB1oqMusYv">https://t.co/iB1oqMusYv</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLonJioStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLonJioStar</a> 👉 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvRCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvRCB</a>, LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network &amp; JioHotstar! <a href="https://t.co/JhVhuON09F">pic.twitter.com/JhVhuON09F</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1903452936656806202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
Though KKR looked like crossing the 200-run-mark at one stage, they scored 174/8 in 20 overs, courtesy of some brilliant bowling and captaincy from RCB.&nbsp;
Krunal impressed everyone with his clutch spell, picking three wickets for 29 runs, while others also chipped in with a wicket each. Seamer Josh Hazlewood grabbed two on his return to competitive cricket.
<h2>Salt, Kohli pull off 7-wicket chase for RCB</h2>
RCB has had several powerful opening pairs over the years, but this new one of England&rsquo;s Phil Salt and batting giant Virat Kohli looks like a real deal. The batting duo clicked from the offset - similar to how they did during the pre-season camp, hammering KKR bowlers to all parts.&nbsp;While Salt took the onus early on, Kohli joined him soon after, smashing KKR debutant Spencer Johnson for massive sixes in the same over.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8khqrol-wkt6on83-l350mh9k">
A stroke which had class written all over it! 😍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViratKohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViratKohli</a> lifts an overpitched delivery effortlessly for a sublime six! 🫰🏻 Watch LIVE action: <a href="https://t.co/iB1oqMusYv">https://t.co/iB1oqMusYv</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLonJioStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLonJioStar</a> 👉 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvRCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvRCB</a>, LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network &amp; JioHotstar! <a href="https://t.co/zIapSr0RNj">pic.twitter.com/zIapSr0RNj</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1903484861488537658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
However, what broke KKR&rsquo;s back was Salt&rsquo;s assault against premier spinner Varun Chakaravarthy in his first two overs. The pair added 95 for the first wicket before Varun had Salt&rsquo;s number on 56.
RCB sent in the Impact Player Devdutt Padikkal at three, but that trick failed.&nbsp;Captain Rajat Patidar joined Kohli in the middle and began bashing from the word go, crushing early jitters.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8khrrvs-bo2fd7o2-1l8g3tph">
And the skipper joins the party! ❤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajatPatidar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajatPatidar</a> smashes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SunilNarine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SunilNarine</a> over long for a beautiful MAXIMUM! 🙌🏻 Watch LIVE action: <a href="https://t.co/iB1oqMusYv">https://t.co/iB1oqMusYv</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLonJioStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLonJioStar</a> 👉 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvRCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvRCB</a>, LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network &amp; JioHotstar! <a href="https://t.co/OBtBfFkr00">pic.twitter.com/OBtBfFkr00</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1903495597191225634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
He, however, got out playing the glory shot, with English all-rounder Liam Livingstone completing the formalities, scoring an unbeaten 15 off five balls, including two fours and a six.&nbsp;

Cricket, Sports: Krunal Pandya picked three for 29 in the first innings, helping RCB restrict KKR to 174 for eight in the tournament opener at Eden Gardens.

Virat Kohli scored his first fifty of the season, an unbeaten 59, but Krunal Pandya’s heroics with the ball in the first innings laid the platform for a comfortable win for the RCB over KKR in the IPL 2025 opener. On Saturday (Mar 22) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Bengaluru prevailed by seven wickets, as Rajat Patidar began his captaincy tenure with a victory. KKR vs RCB at the Eden was always going to be a blockbuster, and it didn’t disappoint. Game one of IPL 2025 was a cracker but heartbreak for the home fans as KKR lost their first match of the season. Also read | IPL 2025: Be wary of SRH's ultra-aggressive approach, coach Daniel Vettori warns all teams Sent to bat first after losing the toss, KKR lost opener Quinton de Kock inside the first over. Newly-appointed captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine steadied the ship, with Rahane taking all bowlers to cleaners. He smashed the first six of the tournament, adding three more in his 103-run stand with Narine for the second wicket. MAXIMUM! 🔥#AjinkyaRahane picks the length early and whacks #RasikhSalam for the first six of #TATAIPL 2025! 🙌🏻 Watch LIVE action: https://t.co/iB1oqMusYv #IPLonJioStar 👉 #KKRvRCB, LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/JhVhuON09F — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 22, 2025 Though KKR looked like crossing the 200-run-mark at one stage, they scored 174/8 in 20 overs, courtesy of some brilliant bowling and captaincy from RCB. Krunal impressed everyone with his clutch spell, picking three wickets for 29 runs, while others also chipped in with a wicket each. Seamer Josh Hazlewood grabbed two on his return to competitive cricket. Salt, Kohli pull off 7-wicket chase for RCB RCB has had several powerful opening pairs over the years, but this new one of England’s Phil Salt and batting giant Virat Kohli looks like a real deal. The batting duo clicked from the offset - similar to how they did during the pre-season camp, hammering KKR bowlers to all parts. While Salt took the onus early on, Kohli joined him soon after, smashing KKR debutant Spencer Johnson for massive sixes in the same over. A stroke which had class written all over it! 😍#ViratKohli lifts an overpitched delivery effortlessly for a sublime six! 🫰🏻 Watch LIVE action: https://t.co/iB1oqMusYv #IPLonJioStar 👉 #KKRvRCB, LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/zIapSr0RNj — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 22, 2025 However, what broke KKR’s back was Salt’s assault against premier spinner Varun Chakaravarthy in his first two overs. The pair added 95 for the first wicket before Varun had Salt’s number on 56. RCB sent in the Impact Player Devdutt Padikkal at three, but that trick failed. Captain Rajat Patidar joined Kohli in the middle and began bashing from the word go, crushing early jitters. And the skipper joins the party! ❤#RajatPatidar smashes #SunilNarine over long for a beautiful MAXIMUM! 🙌🏻 Watch LIVE action: https://t.co/iB1oqMusYv #IPLonJioStar 👉 #KKRvRCB, LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/OBtBfFkr00 — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 22, 2025 He, however, got out playing the glory shot, with English all-rounder Liam Livingstone completing the formalities, scoring an unbeaten 15 off five balls, including two fours and a six.

KKR vs RCB: Kohli, Krunal power Bengaluru to comfortable win in IPL 2025 opener

Nothing is stopping <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunrisers-hyderabad-srh" rel="dofollow">SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH)</a> from bettering their last season&rsquo;s result, coach Daniel Vettori said ahead of their tournament opener against Rajasthan Royals in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a>. However, that&rsquo;s not even the most worrying warning for all teams; Vettori added that SRH&rsquo;s batting, which made headlines last season for deploying a fearless approach, will remain ultra-aggressive this season.
SRH scored the bulk of runs last season, including registering three of the top five highest team totals, the first two being the most in tournament history. Their attacking approach crushed everyone coming their way, barring the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), which beat them to win their third IPL title.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-adam-gilchrist-picks-orange-cap-contender-backs-ponting-iyer-to-change-pbks-fortunes-8880644" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: Gilchrist picks orange cap contender; backs Ponting-Iyer to change PBKS fortunes</a>
With Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma at the top and Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen coming down the order, SRH perhaps has the most-daunting batting top five this season, with Vettori sending warning signs to all teams to remain beware.
"Whatever ground we go to, we have an understanding that the batting team is going to be aggressive. The only thing that can mitigate that is the pitch, but most times, the pitches in IPL are very flat,&rdquo; Vettori said at the pre-game presser.
Vettori said the teams know what to expect from the IPL venues as they prepare strategies accordingly. The former New Zealand captain added that team skipper Pat Cummins cleared the agenda earlier, informing everyone of the template they wish to follow this season.
"When you come to these grounds, you know exactly what to expect. You know how the batsmen are going come against you. It's quite&hellip;..maybe not fun is the right word; it's a good challenge for a bowling group to try and work their way through that.
"That's what Pat [Cummins, the captain] addressed the bowling group the other day. He said the expectation is on the batters to do all the work, score the runs, and the bowlers can sort of feed into that. If we get those days to make it all work, it's going go a long way in us winning games. The onus on the batting group to score runs and for the bowlers to be able to mitigate that,&rdquo; he continued.
<h2>&lsquo;Expectations bring excitement&rsquo;</h2>
SRH came close to winning their second IPL title last year, only for them to falter on the day when it mattered the most.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/watch-ms-dhoni-shares-light-moment-with-hardik-pandya-ahead-of-marquee-csk-mi-ipl-2025-clash-8880461" rel="dofollow">Watch &ndash; MS Dhoni shares light moment with Hardik Pandya ahead of CSK-MI clash</a>
Come IPL 2025, fans are expecting them to go one notch ahead and clinch the trophy.&nbsp;
"Expectations bring some excitement," he said. "Expectations are built around the performances of last year and the quality of the team we've been able to put together at the back end of last season and into the auction.
"As a franchise, we're really excited about the season because we have that foundation from the five players [Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma] we retained, and how well they performed last year, hopefully, we have the squad to perform as well this year if not better,&rdquo; Vettori noted.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: SRH scored the bulk of runs last season, including registering three of the top five highest team totals, the first two being the most ever in IPL.

Nothing is stopping SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) from bettering their last season’s result, coach Daniel Vettori said ahead of their tournament opener against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. However, that’s not even the most worrying warning for all teams; Vettori added that SRH’s batting, which made headlines last season for deploying a fearless approach, will remain ultra-aggressive this season. SRH scored the bulk of runs last season, including registering three of the top five highest team totals, the first two being the most in tournament history. Their attacking approach crushed everyone coming their way, barring the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), which beat them to win their third IPL title. Also read | IPL 2025: Gilchrist picks orange cap contender; backs Ponting-Iyer to change PBKS fortunes With Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma at the top and Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen coming down the order, SRH perhaps has the most-daunting batting top five this season, with Vettori sending warning signs to all teams to remain beware. "Whatever ground we go to, we have an understanding that the batting team is going to be aggressive. The only thing that can mitigate that is the pitch, but most times, the pitches in IPL are very flat,” Vettori said at the pre-game presser. Vettori said the teams know what to expect from the IPL venues as they prepare strategies accordingly. The former New Zealand captain added that team skipper Pat Cummins cleared the agenda earlier, informing everyone of the template they wish to follow this season. "When you come to these grounds, you know exactly what to expect. You know how the batsmen are going come against you. It's quite…..maybe not fun is the right word; it's a good challenge for a bowling group to try and work their way through that. "That's what Pat [Cummins, the captain] addressed the bowling group the other day. He said the expectation is on the batters to do all the work, score the runs, and the bowlers can sort of feed into that. If we get those days to make it all work, it's going go a long way in us winning games. The onus on the batting group to score runs and for the bowlers to be able to mitigate that,” he continued. ‘Expectations bring excitement’ SRH came close to winning their second IPL title last year, only for them to falter on the day when it mattered the most. Also read | Watch – MS Dhoni shares light moment with Hardik Pandya ahead of CSK-MI clash Come IPL 2025, fans are expecting them to go one notch ahead and clinch the trophy. "Expectations bring some excitement," he said. "Expectations are built around the performances of last year and the quality of the team we've been able to put together at the back end of last season and into the auction. "As a franchise, we're really excited about the season because we have that foundation from the five players [Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma] we retained, and how well they performed last year, hopefully, we have the squad to perform as well this year if not better,” Vettori noted. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Be wary of SRH's ultra-aggressive approach, coach Daniel Vettori warns all teams

Former IPL-winning captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/adam-gilchrist-0" rel="dofollow">Adam Gilchrist</a> has picked his orange cap contender for the 18th edition while backing the new leadership at Punjab Kings (PBKS) to change the team&rsquo;s fortune for good. Gilchrist won the IPL in 2009 with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers but failed to lead the Punjab side to glory during his stint. He, however, dropped ground-breaking revelations about how the management was erratic and acted like a handbrake when he led them.
"There&rsquo;s still the same ownership when I was the captain of that particular franchise, and it was somewhat erratic at times, and that might be the handbrake for them for a long while," the former PBKS captain Gilchrist said on the YouTube show Club Prairie Fire.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/watch-ms-dhoni-shares-light-moment-with-hardik-pandya-ahead-of-marquee-csk-mi-ipl-2025-clash-8880461" rel="dofollow">Watch &ndash; MS Dhoni shares light moment with Hardik Pandya ahead of CSK-MI clash</a>
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have a new head coach - Ricky Ponting, and skipper - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer" rel="dofollow">Shreyas Iyer</a>, heading into <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a>, and Gilchrist believes with Punter around, as fans used to call Ponting, he can help settle PBKS&rsquo; sinking ship. PBKS is among the only three IPL teams, alongside the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, to have never won a title.
Throwing weight behind this new pairing of Iyer and Ponting at PBKS, Gilchrist said considering they had worked previously, they know how to function in tandem, something that might click for the team.
&ldquo;I think the combination of Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer will inspire that franchise. They have worked well together previously, and that&rsquo;s going to be the cohesive gel to bring their ownership together. But I think Ricky will settle the ship,&rdquo; Gilchrist added.
<h2>New orange cap winner</h2>
As accolades go, the player with the most runs gets the orange cap, while the purple cap is bestowed upon the highest wicket-taker. With the tournament already underway, Gilchrist picked his first choice for the orange cap holder, and without any surprises, it&rsquo;s PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer.
Considering the new-look PBKS side filled with plenty of match winners, Iyer is likely to bat at number three, a position Gilchrist feels will help stay among the runs.
&ldquo;Shreyas Iyer is going to be my Orange Cap wearer by the end of it. He is going to bat at number three. He has been talking about it and he is shifting up the order and taking on the leadership role for them,&rdquo; he continued.&nbsp;
Besides his batting number, Iyer&rsquo;s credentials as a captain will benefit PBKS this season. Under Iyer&rsquo;s leadership, Kolkata Knight Riders won the title last season.&nbsp;
However, after both parties decided to mutually part ways, PBKS bagged Iyer&rsquo;s services for a whopping $3.1m (INR 26.75 crore) &ndash; the second-most expensive player in auction history.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: PBKS is among the only three IPL teams, alongside the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, to have never won a title.

Former IPL-winning captain Adam Gilchrist has picked his orange cap contender for the 18th edition while backing the new leadership at Punjab Kings (PBKS) to change the team’s fortune for good. Gilchrist won the IPL in 2009 with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers but failed to lead the Punjab side to glory during his stint. He, however, dropped ground-breaking revelations about how the management was erratic and acted like a handbrake when he led them. "There’s still the same ownership when I was the captain of that particular franchise, and it was somewhat erratic at times, and that might be the handbrake for them for a long while," the former PBKS captain Gilchrist said on the YouTube show Club Prairie Fire. Also read | Watch – MS Dhoni shares light moment with Hardik Pandya ahead of CSK-MI clash Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have a new head coach - Ricky Ponting, and skipper - Shreyas Iyer, heading into IPL 2025, and Gilchrist believes with Punter around, as fans used to call Ponting, he can help settle PBKS’ sinking ship. PBKS is among the only three IPL teams, alongside the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, to have never won a title. Throwing weight behind this new pairing of Iyer and Ponting at PBKS, Gilchrist said considering they had worked previously, they know how to function in tandem, something that might click for the team. “I think the combination of Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer will inspire that franchise. They have worked well together previously, and that’s going to be the cohesive gel to bring their ownership together. But I think Ricky will settle the ship,” Gilchrist added. New orange cap winner As accolades go, the player with the most runs gets the orange cap, while the purple cap is bestowed upon the highest wicket-taker. With the tournament already underway, Gilchrist picked his first choice for the orange cap holder, and without any surprises, it’s PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer. Considering the new-look PBKS side filled with plenty of match winners, Iyer is likely to bat at number three, a position Gilchrist feels will help stay among the runs. “Shreyas Iyer is going to be my Orange Cap wearer by the end of it. He is going to bat at number three. He has been talking about it and he is shifting up the order and taking on the leadership role for them,” he continued. Besides his batting number, Iyer’s credentials as a captain will benefit PBKS this season. Under Iyer’s leadership, Kolkata Knight Riders won the title last season. However, after both parties decided to mutually part ways, PBKS bagged Iyer’s services for a whopping $3.1m (INR 26.75 crore) – the second-most expensive player in auction history. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Gilchrist picks orange cap contender; backs Ponting-Iyer to change PBKS fortunes

KKR vs RCB, IPL 2025, Highlights:&nbsp;Virat Kohli scored his first fifty of the season, an unbeaten 59, but Krunal Pandya&rsquo;s heroics with the ball in the first innings laid the platform for a comfortable win for the RCB over KKR in the IPL 2025 opener. On Saturday (Mar 22) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Bengaluru prevailed by seven wickets, as Rajat Patidar began his captaincy tenure with a victory.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">KKR vs RCB, IPL 2025 Highlights:</h2>
KKR vs RCB at the Eden was always going to be a blockbuster, and it didn&rsquo;t disappoint. Game one of IPL 2025 was a cracker but heartbreak for the home fans as KKR lost their first match of the season.
Sent to bat first after losing the toss, KKR lost opener Quinton de Kock inside the first over. Newly-appointed captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine steadied the ship, with Rahane taking all bowlers to cleaners. He smashed the first six of the tournament, adding three more in his 103-run stand with Narine for the second wicket.
Though KKR looked like crossing the 200-run-mark at one stage, they scored 174/8 in 20 overs, courtesy of some brilliant bowling and captaincy from RCB.&nbsp;
Krunal impressed everyone with his clutch spell, picking three wickets for 29 runs, while others also chipped in with a wicket each. Seamer Josh Hazlewood grabbed two on his return to competitive cricket.

So we are done for the day as RCB beat KKR in the IPL 2025 opener at Eden Gardens in what is a bright start for the visitors.&nbsp;
Final Result
KKR 174/8 (20) RCB 177/3 (16.2) Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 7 wkts

KKR vs RCB Live Score: And we are done!

Virat Kohli scored his first fifty of the season, an unbeaten 59, but Krunal Pandya&rsquo;s heroics with the ball in the first innings laid the platform for a comfortable win for the RCB over KKR in the IPL 2025 opener. On Saturday (Mar 22) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Bengaluru prevailed by seven wickets, as Rajat Patidar began his captaincy tenure with a victory.

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Kohli powers RCB to win

Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar have made light work of KKR bowlers as they continue to dazzle for RCB.&nbsp;
LIVE SCORE: RCB 162/2 (15.2) &nbsp;CRR: 10.57 &nbsp;REQ: 2.79 Royal Challengers Bengaluru need 13 runs in 28 balls KKR 174/8 (20)

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Virat-Patidar make light work of KKR

Well, the stage looks set for a big win for RCB as they look to put behind the dissapointment fo 2008 against KKR.&nbsp;
LIVE SCORE: RCB 143/2 (14.2) &nbsp;CRR: 9.98 &nbsp;REQ: 5.65 Royal Challengers Bengaluru need 32 runs in 34 balls KKR 174/8 (20)

KKR vs RCB Live Score: RCB near famous win

Virat Kohli has reached 50 his landmark 400th T20 appearance as he continues to age like a fine wine.&nbsp;
LIVE SCORE: RCB 122/2 (12.4) &nbsp;CRR: 9.63 &nbsp;REQ: 7.23 Royal Challengers Bengaluru need 53 runs in 44 balls KKR 174/8 (20)

KKR vs RCB Live Score: 50 up for Virat

Virat Kohli is nearing his fifty as RCB move a step near to win in the opening contest of the IPL 2025 season.&nbsp;
LIVE SCORE: RCB 115/1 (11) &nbsp;CRR: 10.45 &nbsp;REQ: 6.67 Royal Challengers Bengaluru need 60 runs in 54 balls KKR 174/8 (20)

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Virat on fire

RCB need 175 runs to win after a good comeback in the second half of the innings.&nbsp;
LIVE SCORE: KKR 174/8 (20) &nbsp;CRR: 8.7 Innings Break

KKR vs RCB Live Score: RCB need 175 runs to win

RCB bowlers have made a good comeback after Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine had given a good start to their innings.&nbsp;
LIVE SCORE: KKR 166/6 (18.1) &nbsp;CRR: 9.14

KKR vs RCB Live Score: RCB restrict KKR

Andre Russell is back in pavilion as KKR lose sixth wicket in their innings.&nbsp;
Last Wkt:&nbsp;Andre Russell b Suyash Sharma 4(3) - 150/6 in 15.4 ov.
LIVE SCORE: KKR 150/6 (15.4) CRR:&nbsp;9.57

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Russell falls after KKR reach 150

Well KKR have lost both Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine in quick succession as RCB make a mini comeback.&nbsp;
Last Wkt:&nbsp;Ajinkya Rahane c Rasikh Salam b Krunal Pandya 56(31) - 109/3 in 10.3 ov.
LIVE SCORE: KKR 110/3 (11)&nbsp;CRR:&nbsp;10

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Narine-Rahane gone

100 is already up for KKR as Narine-Rahane pairing is on fire at the Gardens.&nbsp;
LIVE SCORE: KKR 107/2 (10) &nbsp;CRR: 10.7

KKR vs RCB Live Score: 100 up for the hosts 

KKR have made a good start to their innings as they dominate the powerplays. Ajinkya Rahane was the star while Quinton de Kock was also good with the bat.&nbsp;
LIVE SCORE: KKR 68/1 (7.2) &nbsp;CRR: 9.27

KKR vs RCB Live Score: KKR dominate in powerplay

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt(w), Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Impact Subs: Devdutt Padikkal, Abhinandan Singh, Manoj Bhandage, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Singh

KKR vs RCB Live Score: RCB Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Kolkata Knight Riders Impact Subs: Anrich Nortje, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia.

KKR vs RCB Live Score: KKR Playing XI

So the fans are treated to an SRK show as Indian Premier League (IPL) Season 18 kicks off in presence of dignitaries and star names.&nbsp;

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Toss coming up as SRK hosts opening ceremony

From Shreya to Disha and now we have Karan Aujla who is mesmerising the crowd at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.&nbsp;

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Toss at 7, but stars have taken over at Eden Gardens

Shreya Ghoshal has kick started the IPL opening ceremony as the B-Town singer does what she does best. Fans are ecstatic and we are off to a great start.&nbsp;

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Shreya Ghoshal takes centre stage at Eden Gardens

We are expecting fireworks at Eden Gardens as big names like Shahrukh Khan and Disha Patani are set to peform.

KKR vs RCB Live Score: What's on offer?

Rain threat looms large on the contest at the Eden Gardens between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru as both teams look to make a positive start. However, for now weather is clear and things look good to get underway.&nbsp;

KKR vs RCB Live Score: What is the weather like?

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025) opener between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from Eden Gardens on WION. Follow us for all the live updates on the curtain-raiser contest.

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Hello and Welcome!

KKR vs RCB, Highlights: On Saturday at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Bengaluru prevailed by seven wickets, as Rajat Patidar began his captaincy tenure with a victory.

KKR vs RCB, IPL 2025, Highlights: Virat Kohli scored his first fifty of the season, an unbeaten 59, but Krunal Pandya’s heroics with the ball in the first innings laid the platform for a comfortable win for the RCB over KKR in the IPL 2025 opener. On Saturday (Mar 22) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Bengaluru prevailed by seven wickets, as Rajat Patidar began his captaincy tenure with a victory. KKR vs RCB, IPL 2025 Highlights: KKR vs RCB at the Eden was always going to be a blockbuster, and it didn’t disappoint. Game one of IPL 2025 was a cracker but heartbreak for the home fans as KKR lost their first match of the season. Sent to bat first after losing the toss, KKR lost opener Quinton de Kock inside the first over. Newly-appointed captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine steadied the ship, with Rahane taking all bowlers to cleaners. He smashed the first six of the tournament, adding three more in his 103-run stand with Narine for the second wicket. Though KKR looked like crossing the 200-run-mark at one stage, they scored 174/8 in 20 overs, courtesy of some brilliant bowling and captaincy from RCB. Krunal impressed everyone with his clutch spell, picking three wickets for 29 runs, while others also chipped in with a wicket each. Seamer Josh Hazlewood grabbed two on his return to competitive cricket.

IPL 2025, KKR  vs RCB, Highlights: Virat, Krunal shine as RCB beat KKR by 7 wickets at Eden Gardens

Ahead of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/csk-vs-mi" rel="dofollow">CSK-MI</a> IPL 2025 clash at the Chepauk in Chennai on Sunday (Mar 23), two superstars &ndash; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ms-dhoni" rel="dofollow">MS Dhoni</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/hardik-pandya" rel="dofollow">Hardik Pandya</a>, shared a light moment during the training. Former Chennai Super Kings captain Dhoni and Mumbai Indians&rsquo; Pandya hugged midway through the practice session and giggled around as the video went viral on social media.
<h3>Watch &ndash;</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8kaipzb-hcki4ajk-hsoausqc">
HP 🫂 MSD<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiIndians?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiIndians</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayLikeMumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayLikeMumbai</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvMI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvMI</a> [Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni] <a href="https://t.co/JtCDgnShBq">pic.twitter.com/JtCDgnShBq</a>
&mdash; Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/1903438955498103272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
While MI&rsquo;s captain Pandya will miss his team&rsquo;s tournament opener against fierce rivals CSK, Dhoni, 43, will hog all the limelight in potentially his last season as an active IPL cricketer. In Pandya&rsquo;s absence, star batter Suryakumar Yadav will captain Mumbai (against Chennai), while Ruturaj Gaikwad will walk out at the toss as CSK's skipper.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-record-breaker-gibbs-doesnt-think-scoring-300-in-an-inning-is-biggest-achievement-8880269" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: Record-breaker Gibbs doesn&rsquo;t think scoring 300 in an inning is biggest achievement</a>
<h2>CSK-MI in IPL 2025</h2>
The two most successful IPL teams, having won five titles each, will square off in Chennai on Sunday evening in the first marquee match of the tournament. Unlike the previous season, where CSK-MI faced off only once (at Wankhede), the two heavyweights will meet twice in IPL 2025, the second of which is scheduled (for April 20) in Mumbai.
For Mumbai Indians, ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah will miss the action as he recovers from the back spasm suffered on the Australian tour in January. Although he came close to attaining full fitness and earning an India recall for the recently concluded Champions Trophy, a last-minute lapse in his recovery forced the selectors to overlook him for the first showpiece event of the year.
Per the latest reports, Bumrah returned to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru a week after making his first visit since getting ruled out. Bumrah has resumed bowling at the NCA nets, preparing for his anticipated return to competitive cricket.
Predicted XIs of CSK and MI &ndash;
CSK &ndash; Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Devon Conway/Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shreyas Gopal, Khaleel Ahmed and Matheesha Pathirana
MI &ndash; Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa/Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult and Karn Sharma
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: While Pandya will miss MI's tournament opener against CSK, MS Dhoni will hog all the limelight in potentially his last season as an active IPL cricketer

Ahead of the CSK-MI IPL 2025 clash at the Chepauk in Chennai on Sunday (Mar 23), two superstars – MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya, shared a light moment during the training. Former Chennai Super Kings captain Dhoni and Mumbai Indians’ Pandya hugged midway through the practice session and giggled around as the video went viral on social media. Watch – HP 🫂 MSD#MumbaiIndians #PlayLikeMumbai #TATAIPL #CSKvMI [Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni] pic.twitter.com/JtCDgnShBq — Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 22, 2025 While MI’s captain Pandya will miss his team’s tournament opener against fierce rivals CSK, Dhoni, 43, will hog all the limelight in potentially his last season as an active IPL cricketer. In Pandya’s absence, star batter Suryakumar Yadav will captain Mumbai (against Chennai), while Ruturaj Gaikwad will walk out at the toss as CSK's skipper. Also read | IPL 2025: Record-breaker Gibbs doesn’t think scoring 300 in an inning is biggest achievement CSK-MI in IPL 2025 The two most successful IPL teams, having won five titles each, will square off in Chennai on Sunday evening in the first marquee match of the tournament. Unlike the previous season, where CSK-MI faced off only once (at Wankhede), the two heavyweights will meet twice in IPL 2025, the second of which is scheduled (for April 20) in Mumbai. For Mumbai Indians, ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah will miss the action as he recovers from the back spasm suffered on the Australian tour in January. Although he came close to attaining full fitness and earning an India recall for the recently concluded Champions Trophy, a last-minute lapse in his recovery forced the selectors to overlook him for the first showpiece event of the year. Per the latest reports, Bumrah returned to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru a week after making his first visit since getting ruled out. Bumrah has resumed bowling at the NCA nets, preparing for his anticipated return to competitive cricket. Predicted XIs of CSK and MI – CSK – Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Devon Conway/Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shreyas Gopal, Khaleel Ahmed and Matheesha Pathirana MI – Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa/Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult and Karn Sharma (With inputs from agencies)

Watch – MS Dhoni shares light moment with Hardik Pandya ahead of CSK-MI clash

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