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Fiery spells from pacers Jacob Duffy and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kyle-jamieson">Kyle Jamieson</a> ensured a dominant start for New Zealand, as they dismantled a new-look Pakistan led by Salman Agha, securing a commanding nine-wicket victory in the first T20I on Sunday (March 16). With this win, the Kiwis take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, New Zealand&rsquo;s bowlers ran riot, bundling Pakistan out for a mere 91 runs in 18.4 overs. The chase was a mere formality, as the hosts cruised to victory in just 10.1 overs with nine wickets in hand.
Also Read: V<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohli-opens-up-on-australia-tour-most-intense-disappointment-of-my-career-8857547">irat Kohli opens up on Australia tour: 'Most intense disappointment of my career'</a>
Jamieson and Duffy spearheaded the attack, leaving Pakistan reeling at 11/4 in just 4.4 overs. Key batters, including Mohammad Haris (0) and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shadab-khan">Shadab Khan</a> (6), fell cheaply, exposing the visitors&rsquo; fragile batting lineup.
<h2 data-start="544" data-end="1131">Jamieson, Duffy run amok</h2>
A brief 46-run partnership between skipper Salman Agha (18 off 20, 2 fours) and Khushdil Shah (32 off 30, 3 sixes) provided some resistance before Ish Sodhi triggered another collapse. Jahandad Khan (17) managed to add a few late runs, but Pakistan's innings folded at 91&mdash; their lowest T20I total in New Zealand, surpassing the 101 they posted in Wellington in 2016.
Jamieson (3/8 in 4 overs) and Duffy (4/14 in 3.4 overs) were the standout performers with the ball, while Ish Sodhi (2/27) and debutant Zakary Foulkes (1/11) also chipped in.
In response, New Zealand&rsquo;s openers launched an aggressive start, reaching 53/1 by the end of the powerplay&mdash; a stark contrast to Pakistan&rsquo;s 14/4. Spinner Abrar Ahmed provided the only breakthrough, dismissing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/tim-seifert" rel="dofollow">Tim Seifert</a> for 44 off 29 balls (7 fours, 1 six). However, Finn Allen (29* off 17, 2 fours, 2 sixes) and Tim Robinson (18* off 15, 1 six) comfortably sealed the win with 59 balls to spare.
For his sensational bowling, Kyle Jamieson was named 'Player of the Match.'
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: The tourists began the five-match series in disastrous fashion, reduced to 11/4 after five overs after towering paceman Kyle Jamieson ran amok with the new ball

Fiery spells from pacers Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson ensured a dominant start for New Zealand, as they dismantled a new-look Pakistan led by Salman Agha, securing a commanding nine-wicket victory in the first T20I on Sunday (March 16). With this win, the Kiwis take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Opting to field first after winning the toss, New Zealand’s bowlers ran riot, bundling Pakistan out for a mere 91 runs in 18.4 overs. The chase was a mere formality, as the hosts cruised to victory in just 10.1 overs with nine wickets in hand. Also Read: Virat Kohli opens up on Australia tour: 'Most intense disappointment of my career' Jamieson and Duffy spearheaded the attack, leaving Pakistan reeling at 11/4 in just 4.4 overs. Key batters, including Mohammad Haris (0) and Shadab Khan (6), fell cheaply, exposing the visitors’ fragile batting lineup. Jamieson, Duffy run amok A brief 46-run partnership between skipper Salman Agha (18 off 20, 2 fours) and Khushdil Shah (32 off 30, 3 sixes) provided some resistance before Ish Sodhi triggered another collapse. Jahandad Khan (17) managed to add a few late runs, but Pakistan's innings folded at 91— their lowest T20I total in New Zealand, surpassing the 101 they posted in Wellington in 2016. Jamieson (3/8 in 4 overs) and Duffy (4/14 in 3.4 overs) were the standout performers with the ball, while Ish Sodhi (2/27) and debutant Zakary Foulkes (1/11) also chipped in. In response, New Zealand’s openers launched an aggressive start, reaching 53/1 by the end of the powerplay— a stark contrast to Pakistan’s 14/4. Spinner Abrar Ahmed provided the only breakthrough, dismissing Tim Seifert for 44 off 29 balls (7 fours, 1 six). However, Finn Allen (29* off 17, 2 fours, 2 sixes) and Tim Robinson (18* off 15, 1 six) comfortably sealed the win with 59 balls to spare. For his sensational bowling, Kyle Jamieson was named 'Player of the Match.' (With inputs from agencies)

NZ vs PAK T20 series: Black Caps romp to nine-wicket win in first match

Virat Kohli described his recent tour of Australia as one of the most intense disappointments he has ever faced&mdash;comparable only to the frustration he experienced during the summer of 2014 when he endured a disastrous tour of England, failing to score a single half-century in 10 innings, as per ESPNcricinfo.
India were thrashed in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/border-gavaskar-trophy">Border-Gavaskar Trophy</a> by 3-1. Much like that challenging phase in England, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a> struggled with his vulnerability outside the off stump throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite beginning the series on a strong note with an unbeaten century in India's victory at Perth, his form quickly dipped. In eight of his remaining innings, he was dismissed edging deliveries to the wicketkeeper or slip cordon, managing just 190 runs at an average of 23.75 across nine innings.
"If you ask me the intensity of how disappointed I've been, the most recent Australia tour would be the one that's most fresh. So it might feel the most intense to me," Kohli said at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.
"For a long time, the tour of England in 2014 bothered me the most. But I can't look at it that way. I might not have an Australia tour again in four years. I don't know. You have to make peace with whatever's happened in your life. In 2014, I still had the chance to go in 2018 and do what I did. It might not have been the case. It might have been another blunder. But it didn't turn out that way," he added.
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"So, there's no such guarantees in life. I think when you are at a stage for a long period of time, when you perform, people get used to your performances. They start feeling for you more than you feel sometimes. This has to be corrected," he said.
Kohli admitted that the mounting failures in Australia led to a sense of urgency, making him desperate to rectify his mistakes with every passing innings. However, he eventually realised the importance of accepting disappointment rather than rushing into changes without proper reflection.
"Once you start taking on the energy and the disappointment from the outside, then you start burdening yourself way more," Kohli said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.
"And then you start thinking about things, like 'I've got two or three days left on this tour, I need to make an impact now.' And you start getting more desperate. That's something I've surely experienced in Australia as well," he added.
<h2 data-start="2375" data-end="2614">'For me it is pure joy and love for the game'</h2>
He noted, "Because I got a good score in the first Test. I thought, right, 'let's go.' There's going to be another big series for me. It doesn't turn out that way. For me, it's just about the acceptance of, 'okay fine, this is what happened. I'm going to be honest with myself. Where do I want to go? What are my energy levels like?'
"I'm not sitting here in 48 hours or 72 hours-time to make a decision like 'let me go.' Spend time with family. Just sit down. Let everything calm down. And see how I feel in a few days. And within five-six days I was excited to go to the gym. I was like, okay fine. It's all good. I don't need to tweet anything right now," he said.
"Me playing the game is not for achievement," Kohli said.&nbsp;"It pretty much comes down to just the pure joy and enjoyment and love for the game. And as long as that love is intact, I will continue to play the game. I have to be honest about that with myself. Because the competitive streak doesn't allow you to find the answer," he said.
"Recently, I had a very interesting conversation with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rahul-dravid">Rahul Dravid</a> when he was our coach. He said you always have to stay in touch with yourself. Figure out where you are placed in your life. And the answer is not that easy, because you might be going through a lean phase and you feel like 'this is it.' But it might not be," he added.
"But then when it was time, he said my competitive streak would not allow me to accept it. Maybe one more. Maybe six more months, whatever. So, I think it's a fine balance. And you have to just pray and hope that you get clarity when it comes. At this point in my life, I feel pretty happy. I still love playing the game. Don't get nervous, I'm not making any announcements, as of now, everything is fine," Kohli concluded.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Much like that challenging phase in England, Virat Kohli struggled with his vulnerability outside the off stump throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Virat Kohli described his recent tour of Australia as one of the most intense disappointments he has ever faced—comparable only to the frustration he experienced during the summer of 2014 when he endured a disastrous tour of England, failing to score a single half-century in 10 innings, as per ESPNcricinfo. India were thrashed in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by 3-1. Much like that challenging phase in England, Virat Kohli struggled with his vulnerability outside the off stump throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite beginning the series on a strong note with an unbeaten century in India's victory at Perth, his form quickly dipped. In eight of his remaining innings, he was dismissed edging deliveries to the wicketkeeper or slip cordon, managing just 190 runs at an average of 23.75 across nine innings. "If you ask me the intensity of how disappointed I've been, the most recent Australia tour would be the one that's most fresh. So it might feel the most intense to me," Kohli said at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo. "For a long time, the tour of England in 2014 bothered me the most. But I can't look at it that way. I might not have an Australia tour again in four years. I don't know. You have to make peace with whatever's happened in your life. In 2014, I still had the chance to go in 2018 and do what I did. It might not have been the case. It might have been another blunder. But it didn't turn out that way," he added. Also Read: Exclusive | Beyond the drag flick: Deepika, from a childhood photograph to a hockey icon "So, there's no such guarantees in life. I think when you are at a stage for a long period of time, when you perform, people get used to your performances. They start feeling for you more than you feel sometimes. This has to be corrected," he said. Kohli admitted that the mounting failures in Australia led to a sense of urgency, making him desperate to rectify his mistakes with every passing innings. However, he eventually realised the importance of accepting disappointment rather than rushing into changes without proper reflection. "Once you start taking on the energy and the disappointment from the outside, then you start burdening yourself way more," Kohli said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo. "And then you start thinking about things, like 'I've got two or three days left on this tour, I need to make an impact now.' And you start getting more desperate. That's something I've surely experienced in Australia as well," he added. 'For me it is pure joy and love for the game' He noted, "Because I got a good score in the first Test. I thought, right, 'let's go.' There's going to be another big series for me. It doesn't turn out that way. For me, it's just about the acceptance of, 'okay fine, this is what happened. I'm going to be honest with myself. Where do I want to go? What are my energy levels like?' "I'm not sitting here in 48 hours or 72 hours-time to make a decision like 'let me go.' Spend time with family. Just sit down. Let everything calm down. And see how I feel in a few days. And within five-six days I was excited to go to the gym. I was like, okay fine. It's all good. I don't need to tweet anything right now," he said. "Me playing the game is not for achievement," Kohli said. "It pretty much comes down to just the pure joy and enjoyment and love for the game. And as long as that love is intact, I will continue to play the game. I have to be honest about that with myself. Because the competitive streak doesn't allow you to find the answer," he said. "Recently, I had a very interesting conversation with Rahul Dravid when he was our coach. He said you always have to stay in touch with yourself. Figure out where you are placed in your life. And the answer is not that easy, because you might be going through a lean phase and you feel like 'this is it.' But it might not be," he added. "But then when it was time, he said my competitive streak would not allow me to accept it. Maybe one more. Maybe six more months, whatever. So, I think it's a fine balance. And you have to just pray and hope that you get clarity when it comes. At this point in my life, I feel pretty happy. I still love playing the game. Don't get nervous, I'm not making any announcements, as of now, everything is fine," Kohli concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Virat Kohli opens up on Australia tour: 'Most intense disappointment of my career'

Mumbai Indians reclaimed the Women&rsquo;s Premier League (WPL 2025) title after they beat Delhi Capitals in the final on Saturday (Mar 15) by eight runs. The match played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai also means Delhi have registered an unwanted record of losing three consecutive WPL finals as they yet again fell short. On the other hand, this is Mumbai&rsquo;s second title having also won the inaugural season in 2021 under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JINKLOOOOOOO 😭💙<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AaliRe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AaliRe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiIndians?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiIndians</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAWPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAWPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DCvMI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DCvMI</a> <a href="https://t.co/RI8O8Rooml">pic.twitter.com/RI8O8Rooml</a>
&mdash; Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/1900972516920983853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Mumbai reclaim WPL title</h2>
Playing in a repeat of the 2023 final, there was no better luck for Delhi Capitals as they ended up on the losing side as they chased 150 runs to win. Having secured direct passage to the final, Delhi ran out of luck during the chase as they lost wickets at consistent intervals. Skipper Meg Lanning (13), Shafali Verma (4) and Jess Jonassen (13) were all dismissed in the opening seven overs.
Jemimah Rodrigues (30 off 21) showed little resistance with the bat but was not enough as DC lost wickets at consistent intervals. However, a late cameo from Marizanne Kapp (40 off 26) and Niki Prasad (25 off 23) almost had DC back in the match but Nat Sciver-Brunt&rsquo;s back-to-back wickets in the 18th over had Mumbai back in position to win the match.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/all-50-pakistan-cricketers-overlooked-in-the-hundred-draft-heres-why-8854794" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft &ndash; Here's why</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Harmanpreet Kaur shines with bat</h2>
Batting first Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet Kaur shined with the bat as she scored 66 off 44 as the hosts made poor start to their innings. Both openers Yastika Bhatia (8) and Hayley Matthews (3) were dismissed in the powerplay before Harmanpreet and Nat Sciver-Brunt (30 off 28) stitched a stand of 89 runs for the third wicket. After losing wickets later in the innings, Mumbai were restricted to 149/7 in their 20 overs.
The defeat in the final means Delhi have become the first team to register the unwanted record of hat-trick of losses in the WPL summit clash. They had lost to Mumbai Indians in the WPL 2023 final while Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) got the better of them in the WPL 2024 final.

Cricket, Sports: Mumbai Indians reclaimed the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2025) title after they beat Delhi Capitals in the final on Saturday (Mar 15) by eight runs.

Mumbai Indians reclaimed the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2025) title after they beat Delhi Capitals in the final on Saturday (Mar 15) by eight runs. The match played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai also means Delhi have registered an unwanted record of losing three consecutive WPL finals as they yet again fell short. On the other hand, this is Mumbai’s second title having also won the inaugural season in 2021 under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur. JINKLOOOOOOO 😭💙#AaliRe #MumbaiIndians #TATAWPL #DCvMI pic.twitter.com/RI8O8Rooml — Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 15, 2025 Mumbai reclaim WPL title Playing in a repeat of the 2023 final, there was no better luck for Delhi Capitals as they ended up on the losing side as they chased 150 runs to win. Having secured direct passage to the final, Delhi ran out of luck during the chase as they lost wickets at consistent intervals. Skipper Meg Lanning (13), Shafali Verma (4) and Jess Jonassen (13) were all dismissed in the opening seven overs. Jemimah Rodrigues (30 off 21) showed little resistance with the bat but was not enough as DC lost wickets at consistent intervals. However, a late cameo from Marizanne Kapp (40 off 26) and Niki Prasad (25 off 23) almost had DC back in the match but Nat Sciver-Brunt’s back-to-back wickets in the 18th over had Mumbai back in position to win the match. ALSO READ | All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft – Here's why Harmanpreet Kaur shines with bat Batting first Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet Kaur shined with the bat as she scored 66 off 44 as the hosts made poor start to their innings. Both openers Yastika Bhatia (8) and Hayley Matthews (3) were dismissed in the powerplay before Harmanpreet and Nat Sciver-Brunt (30 off 28) stitched a stand of 89 runs for the third wicket. After losing wickets later in the innings, Mumbai were restricted to 149/7 in their 20 overs. The defeat in the final means Delhi have become the first team to register the unwanted record of hat-trick of losses in the WPL summit clash. They had lost to Mumbai Indians in the WPL 2023 final while Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) got the better of them in the WPL 2024 final.

Mumbai Indians reclaim WPL title with thrilling win as Delhi Capitals lose third consecutive final

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ms-dhoni" rel="dofollow">MS Dhoni</a> is a cricketing genius for what he did in the game, for what he brings to the game and how he dictates the game. Known to be a cunning mind behind the wickets, Thala, as cricket fans call him has a fan in one of IPL 2025&rsquo;s millionaires -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/venkatesh-iyer" rel="dofollow">Venkatesh Iyer</a> from Kolkata Knight Riders. Reflecting on one of the instances from the last season, Iyer explained how Dhoni&rsquo;s tactics bamboozled him.
During an encounter between the CSK and the KKR the past season, at the Chepauk in Chennai, Iyer got out early on just three in the first innings, with Ravindra Jadeja picking his wicket. However, the setup behind Iyer&rsquo;s dismissal was where he got gobsmacked.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/price-tag-pressure-exists-but-once-youre-kkrs-venkatesh-iyer-ahead-of-ipl-2025-8856015" rel="dofollow">&lsquo;Price tag pressure exists but once you&rsquo;re&hellip;,&rsquo; KKR&rsquo;s Venkatesh Iyer ahead of IPL 2025</a>
Explaining in detail what happened in the lead-up to it, Iyer said before the ball on which he got out, Dhoni changed the field, moving a fielder from the deep square leg to the short third, leaving Iyer wondering what was going to happen. And as the worst could have, he found the same fielder on the next ball, leaving him shocked over Dhoni&rsquo;s &lsquo;real captaincy&rsquo;. &nbsp;
&ldquo;Dhoni took out a fielder from deep square leg and placed him at short third, slightly away from the spot where short third usually is. The [very] next ball, I hit straight into short third&rsquo;s hands,&rdquo; Iyer revealed in an interview with The Cricket Monthly.
<h2>How does he do it?</h2>
Intrigued by Dhoni&rsquo;s thoughts, Iyer approached him after the game, questioning how he planned it.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohli-hints-at-coming-out-of-t20i-retirement-but-only-on-one-condition-olympics-la28-cricket-8856635" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli hints at coming out of T20I retirement but only on one condition</a>
&ldquo;Post the game, I asked Dhoni why he placed that fielder in that spot and he had a proper answer for it. He was trying to understand the impact of the ball from my bat, the angles. His reading of angles is just out of the world, and he knew that if I hit this shot, it had to go in that direction, so he had a fielder put there. This is being proactive. This is real captaincy: understanding what a batter is doing.
&ldquo;That was the cunning of Dhoni. I could have waited for a couple of balls, but no, the next ball, I hit it there (chuckles), and it just happened. The cameras showed the exact picture of how the field changed and the very next ball I hit there. It is up to the batsman to understand why certain things are being done [on the field],&rdquo; Iyer added.
Meanwhile, Iyer and Dhoni will continue to feature for their respective franchises in IPL 2025. While KKR named Iyer as the new vice-captain, with seasoned campaigner Ajinkya Rahane set to lead the team, MS Dhoni will hog all the limelight but as an uncapped player this time.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: KKR named Iyer the new vice-captain ahead of IPL 2025, while MS Dhoni will continue to hog all the limelight but as an uncapped player this time.

MS Dhoni is a cricketing genius for what he did in the game, for what he brings to the game and how he dictates the game. Known to be a cunning mind behind the wickets, Thala, as cricket fans call him has a fan in one of IPL 2025’s millionaires - Venkatesh Iyer from Kolkata Knight Riders. Reflecting on one of the instances from the last season, Iyer explained how Dhoni’s tactics bamboozled him. During an encounter between the CSK and the KKR the past season, at the Chepauk in Chennai, Iyer got out early on just three in the first innings, with Ravindra Jadeja picking his wicket. However, the setup behind Iyer’s dismissal was where he got gobsmacked. Also read | ‘Price tag pressure exists but once you’re…,’ KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer ahead of IPL 2025 Explaining in detail what happened in the lead-up to it, Iyer said before the ball on which he got out, Dhoni changed the field, moving a fielder from the deep square leg to the short third, leaving Iyer wondering what was going to happen. And as the worst could have, he found the same fielder on the next ball, leaving him shocked over Dhoni’s ‘real captaincy’. “Dhoni took out a fielder from deep square leg and placed him at short third, slightly away from the spot where short third usually is. The [very] next ball, I hit straight into short third’s hands,” Iyer revealed in an interview with The Cricket Monthly. How does he do it? Intrigued by Dhoni’s thoughts, Iyer approached him after the game, questioning how he planned it. Also read | Virat Kohli hints at coming out of T20I retirement but only on one condition “Post the game, I asked Dhoni why he placed that fielder in that spot and he had a proper answer for it. He was trying to understand the impact of the ball from my bat, the angles. His reading of angles is just out of the world, and he knew that if I hit this shot, it had to go in that direction, so he had a fielder put there. This is being proactive. This is real captaincy: understanding what a batter is doing. “That was the cunning of Dhoni. I could have waited for a couple of balls, but no, the next ball, I hit it there (chuckles), and it just happened. The cameras showed the exact picture of how the field changed and the very next ball I hit there. It is up to the batsman to understand why certain things are being done [on the field],” Iyer added. Meanwhile, Iyer and Dhoni will continue to feature for their respective franchises in IPL 2025. While KKR named Iyer as the new vice-captain, with seasoned campaigner Ajinkya Rahane set to lead the team, MS Dhoni will hog all the limelight but as an uncapped player this time. (With inputs from agencies)

‘This is real captaincy’, KKR’s millionaire on how MS Dhoni’s cunningness had him in IPL 2024

Ace India batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli</a> announced his T20I retirement shortly after India lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Americas. Joining him were two giants of Indian cricket, captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma" rel="dofollow">Rohit Sharma</a> and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Although Rohit and Jadeja haven&rsquo;t looked back at this format, Kohli has hinted at making a shock comeback to playing T20Is on one condition.
Kohli is perhaps the biggest name in world cricket, and his records speak for him. Owing to his cricket greatness and popularity amongst countless cricketers worldwide, Kohli is the most-followed Indian on the social media app Instagram. His reach and cricket&rsquo;s dominance in the South Asian market forced the International Olympic Committee (IOA) to consider adding this sport to the Olympic Programme for LA28, for which they used his cover photo to popularise it among non-playing countries.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/price-tag-pressure-exists-but-once-youre-kkrs-venkatesh-iyer-ahead-of-ipl-2025-8856015" rel="dofollow">&lsquo;Price tag pressure exists but once you&rsquo;re&hellip;,&rsquo; KKR&rsquo;s Venkatesh Iyer ahead of IPL 2025</a>
Although Kohli has achieved everything that there is in cricket, one medal absent from his decorated cabinet is for which he can consider returning to playing T20Is.
'If India reaches the Olympics final in 2028, (I) might just think of coming out of retirement for that one match. Winning an Olympic medal would be magnificent,' Kohli said on the sidelines of Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, powered by Leaders.
Kohli, 36, is as fit as anyone in the game, but should he plan to stick around when the Olympics in 2028 comes across, he&rsquo;d be approaching 40. Given his fitness and hunger to do more for his country, Kohli can play for the next three years.&nbsp;
However, speaking on the same lines, Kohli revealed what inspired him to embark on his fitness journey.
"My transformations came after a few tough tours when I saw the guys lasting on the field longer than us. From the team's point of view, things were not tough, but convincing my mum was tough. She thought I was looking sick. I told her that the world is talking about my training methods and I am not sick. I felt that I was able to do things much better," he added.
<h2>Ready for IPL</h2>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-virat-kohli-joins-royal-challengers-bengaluru-squad-ahead-of-season-opener-against-kkr-8855737" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli has joined the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) camp</a> for IPL 2025 starting March 22. RCB will face the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), in the curtain raiser at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8aatn6y-nbhzgo53-vtkjqg5w">
This Man and the Aura. 😮&zwj;💨🤌 <a href="https://t.co/TkBv879DQs">pic.twitter.com/TkBv879DQs</a>
&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1900857559504031985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
Besides, when Kohli takes the field against the KKR next Saturday, he will create history by becoming the first player ever to feature for the same franchise for 18 straight years.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Although Kohli has achieved everything in cricket, one medal absent from his decorated cabinet is for which he can consider returning to playing T20Is.

Ace India batter Virat Kohli announced his T20I retirement shortly after India lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Americas. Joining him were two giants of Indian cricket, captain Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Although Rohit and Jadeja haven’t looked back at this format, Kohli has hinted at making a shock comeback to playing T20Is on one condition. Kohli is perhaps the biggest name in world cricket, and his records speak for him. Owing to his cricket greatness and popularity amongst countless cricketers worldwide, Kohli is the most-followed Indian on the social media app Instagram. His reach and cricket’s dominance in the South Asian market forced the International Olympic Committee (IOA) to consider adding this sport to the Olympic Programme for LA28, for which they used his cover photo to popularise it among non-playing countries. Also read | ‘Price tag pressure exists but once you’re…,’ KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer ahead of IPL 2025 Although Kohli has achieved everything that there is in cricket, one medal absent from his decorated cabinet is for which he can consider returning to playing T20Is. 'If India reaches the Olympics final in 2028, (I) might just think of coming out of retirement for that one match. Winning an Olympic medal would be magnificent,' Kohli said on the sidelines of Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, powered by Leaders. Kohli, 36, is as fit as anyone in the game, but should he plan to stick around when the Olympics in 2028 comes across, he’d be approaching 40. Given his fitness and hunger to do more for his country, Kohli can play for the next three years. However, speaking on the same lines, Kohli revealed what inspired him to embark on his fitness journey. "My transformations came after a few tough tours when I saw the guys lasting on the field longer than us. From the team's point of view, things were not tough, but convincing my mum was tough. She thought I was looking sick. I told her that the world is talking about my training methods and I am not sick. I felt that I was able to do things much better," he added. Ready for IPL Virat Kohli has joined the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) camp for IPL 2025 starting March 22. RCB will face the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), in the curtain raiser at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This Man and the Aura. 😮‍💨🤌 pic.twitter.com/TkBv879DQs — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 15, 2025 Besides, when Kohli takes the field against the KKR next Saturday, he will create history by becoming the first player ever to feature for the same franchise for 18 straight years. (With inputs from agencies)

Virat Kohli hints at coming out of T20I retirement but only on one condition

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali quashed any hype around the famous Pakistani pace trio of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shaheen-afridi" rel="dofollow">Shaheen Shah Afridi</a>, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, saying they are good but not the best, pounding their fans&rsquo; perception of them.
Pakistan might have hosted the recently concluded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy 2025</a> but failed to make it to the next round, with successive losses against New Zealand and India minimising their chances of reaching the final four. A washout against Bangladesh knocked them out of the home event later. Even though Pakistani batters did play better cricket across two contested matches, the bowling unit&rsquo;s failure dented their hopes of retaining the Champions Trophy title.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/after-squashing-retirement-rumours-rohit-sharma-to-lead-india-in-england-tests-report-8856235" rel="dofollow">After squashing retirement rumours, Rohit to lead India in England Tests &ndash; Report</a>
Even against India on a tough Dubai pitch, where the par score was as close as Pakistan&rsquo;s first innings total (241), the three frontline seamers, often dubbed as the best of this generation, put up a mediocre performance, with the Indians walking away with a six-wicket victory. While all four specialists picked two wickets each, in as many games, spinner Abrar had the best economy (3.75), and seamer Afridi had the worst (7.88). &nbsp;
Breaking the silence on the hype around this pace trio, which once ruled T20Is around three years ago, Moeen said he agrees that they are good at what they do but not the best, which their fans think they are.
&ldquo;This is the thing people have. Especially people with Pakistani backgrounds. They&rsquo;ll say Pakistani seamers are the best. I&rsquo;m like no, they&rsquo;re not. They&rsquo;re good, but they&rsquo;re not the best,&rdquo; Moeen Ali said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast on YouTube. &ldquo;Naseem Shah, Shaheen and Haris Rauf are very good. We&rsquo;re not saying they are bad, but they&rsquo;re not the best.&rdquo;
<h2>Credit where it's due</h2>
He, however, acknowledged that Pakistan has been producing some of the best fast bowlers the game has seen.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/nz-vs-pak-free-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-new-zealand-vs-pakistan-1st-t20i-live-online-8855172" rel="dofollow">NZ vs PAK Free Live Streaming || When and where to watch New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I live online</a>
&ldquo;Pakistan have this thing where they do produce very good fast bowlers. Again, it&rsquo;s something in their coaching system where they coach Pakistanis unbelievably well,&rdquo; he added.
Meanwhile, all three will be back in action for Pakistan&rsquo;s white-ball away series against New Zealand starting March 16. While Afridi and Rauf are part of the five T20Is, Naseem Shah will partake in the ODIs.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Shaheen, Naseem and Haris picked two wickets each in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with Pakistan failing to qualify for the semis.

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali quashed any hype around the famous Pakistani pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, saying they are good but not the best, pounding their fans’ perception of them. Pakistan might have hosted the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025 but failed to make it to the next round, with successive losses against New Zealand and India minimising their chances of reaching the final four. A washout against Bangladesh knocked them out of the home event later. Even though Pakistani batters did play better cricket across two contested matches, the bowling unit’s failure dented their hopes of retaining the Champions Trophy title. Also read | After squashing retirement rumours, Rohit to lead India in England Tests – Report Even against India on a tough Dubai pitch, where the par score was as close as Pakistan’s first innings total (241), the three frontline seamers, often dubbed as the best of this generation, put up a mediocre performance, with the Indians walking away with a six-wicket victory. While all four specialists picked two wickets each, in as many games, spinner Abrar had the best economy (3.75), and seamer Afridi had the worst (7.88). Breaking the silence on the hype around this pace trio, which once ruled T20Is around three years ago, Moeen said he agrees that they are good at what they do but not the best, which their fans think they are. “This is the thing people have. Especially people with Pakistani backgrounds. They’ll say Pakistani seamers are the best. I’m like no, they’re not. They’re good, but they’re not the best,” Moeen Ali said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast on YouTube. “Naseem Shah, Shaheen and Haris Rauf are very good. We’re not saying they are bad, but they’re not the best.” Credit where it's due He, however, acknowledged that Pakistan has been producing some of the best fast bowlers the game has seen. Also read | NZ vs PAK Free Live Streaming || When and where to watch New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I live online “Pakistan have this thing where they do produce very good fast bowlers. Again, it’s something in their coaching system where they coach Pakistanis unbelievably well,” he added. Meanwhile, all three will be back in action for Pakistan’s white-ball away series against New Zealand starting March 16. While Afridi and Rauf are part of the five T20Is, Naseem Shah will partake in the ODIs. (With inputs from agencies)

Moeen Ali tears into hyped Pakistani pace trio, says ‘they are good but not the best’

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma" rel="dofollow">Rohit Sharma</a> will lead India in England Tests later this year. After guiding India to its third <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy</a> title in Dubai, Rohit will continue as the Test captain for the five-match Test series against England from June to August. Amid retirement rumours, which he squashed shortly after lifting his second ICC title in two years, Rohit will retain his place in the Test side.
Rohit had a horrid run in the lead-up to the first showpiece event of the year, failing massively as a player and captain in two back-to-back Test series (against New Zealand at home and Australia Down Under). Under his leadership, India got whitewashed at home for the first time in history, with Australia reclaiming the BGT a decade later.
His performance was as timid as his chances of playing for India again since January this year - so much so that Rohit had to sit out of the final Test against the Oz in Sydney, which India lost within three days, conceding the away BGT for the first time in ten years and a chance to qualify for its third straight WTC Final.
He, however, transformed his batting before the eight-team tournament got underway, and even though he failed to convert his starts in all matches leading up to the final, he scored a match-winning 76 against New Zealand in the summit clash, helping India beat the Kiwis by four wickets and win the title.
Although reports before the grand final suggested a different story, after Rohit guided India home, it changed to an extent where Rohit got the BCCI and the selectors&rsquo; backing to lead India in another major tournament - the England Tests.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rohit-sharma-has-no-reason-to-retire-ab-de-villiers-throws-weight-behind-indias-almost-most-successful-captain-8849565" rel="dofollow">&lsquo;He has no reason to retire,&rsquo; de Villiers throws weight behind Rohit, India&rsquo;s almost &lsquo;most successful captain&rsquo;</a>
&ldquo;He has shown what he can do. Every stakeholder feels that he is the right candidate to lead the Indian side for the tour of England. Rohit too has expressed his eagerness to keep playing red-ball cricket,&rdquo; a source close to the information said in a chat with the Indian Express.
<h2>Retirement rumours &ndash; all up in the air</h2>
Several reports of Rohit contemplating announcing his international retirement after the Champions Trophy final kept the fans on their toes; the Indian skipper smashed them out of the park the way he did it to the Kiwi bowlers in the final in Dubai.&nbsp;
Although he remained committed to delivering for Indian cricket across formats, he kept mum about his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/it-is-too-far-india-skipper-rohit-sharma-opens-up-on-playing-2027-odi-world-cup-8846074" rel="dofollow">chances of featuring in the next ODI World Cup</a> a couple of years later.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Right now, I&rsquo;m playing really well, and I&rsquo;m enjoying everything I&rsquo;m doing with this team and the team is enjoying my company as well, which is nice. I can&rsquo;t really say 2027 because it&rsquo;s too far, but I&rsquo;m keeping all my options open,&rdquo; Rohit said in a post-match presser.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s something that really makes me happy. There are a lot of things involved, there&rsquo;s so much pride and the way this team is playing, I don&rsquo;t want to leave this team. The way we are playing at this point in time, there is so much joy, so much fun to play with all of them,&rdquo; he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, India lost the home Test series to New Zealand before conceding the away BGT for the first time in a decade.

Rohit Sharma will lead India in England Tests later this year. After guiding India to its third ICC Champions Trophy title in Dubai, Rohit will continue as the Test captain for the five-match Test series against England from June to August. Amid retirement rumours, which he squashed shortly after lifting his second ICC title in two years, Rohit will retain his place in the Test side. Rohit had a horrid run in the lead-up to the first showpiece event of the year, failing massively as a player and captain in two back-to-back Test series (against New Zealand at home and Australia Down Under). Under his leadership, India got whitewashed at home for the first time in history, with Australia reclaiming the BGT a decade later. His performance was as timid as his chances of playing for India again since January this year - so much so that Rohit had to sit out of the final Test against the Oz in Sydney, which India lost within three days, conceding the away BGT for the first time in ten years and a chance to qualify for its third straight WTC Final. He, however, transformed his batting before the eight-team tournament got underway, and even though he failed to convert his starts in all matches leading up to the final, he scored a match-winning 76 against New Zealand in the summit clash, helping India beat the Kiwis by four wickets and win the title. Although reports before the grand final suggested a different story, after Rohit guided India home, it changed to an extent where Rohit got the BCCI and the selectors’ backing to lead India in another major tournament - the England Tests. Also read | ‘He has no reason to retire,’ de Villiers throws weight behind Rohit, India’s almost ‘most successful captain’ “He has shown what he can do. Every stakeholder feels that he is the right candidate to lead the Indian side for the tour of England. Rohit too has expressed his eagerness to keep playing red-ball cricket,” a source close to the information said in a chat with the Indian Express. Retirement rumours – all up in the air Several reports of Rohit contemplating announcing his international retirement after the Champions Trophy final kept the fans on their toes; the Indian skipper smashed them out of the park the way he did it to the Kiwi bowlers in the final in Dubai. Although he remained committed to delivering for Indian cricket across formats, he kept mum about his chances of featuring in the next ODI World Cup a couple of years later. “Right now, I’m playing really well, and I’m enjoying everything I’m doing with this team and the team is enjoying my company as well, which is nice. I can’t really say 2027 because it’s too far, but I’m keeping all my options open,” Rohit said in a post-match presser. “It’s something that really makes me happy. There are a lot of things involved, there’s so much pride and the way this team is playing, I don’t want to leave this team. The way we are playing at this point in time, there is so much joy, so much fun to play with all of them,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

After squashing retirement rumours, Rohit to lead India in England Tests – Report

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) new vice-captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/venkatesh-iyer" rel="dofollow">Venkatesh Iyer</a> admitted feeling pressured by the auction price tag ahead of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a> starting March 22. Iyer, 30, was not among the six players retained by the defending champions before the mega auction in December but became the third-most-expensive buy in IPL history, with KKR bagging his services for a whopping $2.7m (INR 23.75 crore).
His auction bid indicated how much KKR valued him, who played a handy role in them winning the previous edition &ndash; their third in IPL history. However, with no outright captaincy choice available in the squad, the speculations of KKR appointing him as the new captain began doing rounds on social media. But instead, they handpicked seasoned campaigner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane" rel="dofollow">Ajinkya Rahane</a> as the new skipper, with Iyer being his deputy.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-kl-rahul-opens-up-on-auction-delhi-capitals-move-a-nerve-wracking-experience-8855560" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: KL Rahul opens up on auction &amp; Delhi Capitals move: 'A nerve-wracking experience'</a>
Speaking to the media ahead of the start of the 18th edition, Iyer spoke of the reality of the price tag pressure and how Dwayne Bravo&rsquo;s appointment as the new mentor will boost their chances of retaining their IPL title. Bravo replaced Gautam Gambhir, who took up India&rsquo;s head coach role after guiding KKR home the last season.
&ldquo;He's been the most successful T20 player in history, so he brings a lot of experience to the table. Nothing can beat experience. He's played so many games; he's won so many games for West Indies and the franchises that he's played for,&rdquo; Iyer said of T20 great Bravo.
"It exists. You can't ignore it altogether, but when the IPL starts, it really doesn't matter. You're a part of a playing XI, a part of a team that is going out there to win,&rdquo; Iyer said of his price tag.
<h2>&lsquo;Honour to lead KKR&rsquo;</h2>
Rahane felt grateful about getting appointed as KKR&rsquo;s new captain ahead of IPL 2025. Speaking to the media, he acknowledged the management for showing trust in him, adding that he cares about the team more than his batting position, with KKR already&nbsp;having plenty of top-order options. &nbsp;
"It's an honour for me to lead this wonderful franchise. I'm really thankful and grateful to the management for giving me this opportunity," Rahane said. "For me, it is always about keeping it simple... We will obviously give our best this season."&nbsp;
"I have always played wherever the team wanted me to play. Team thinking has always come first,&rdquo; Rahane said of batting position.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: KKR bought Venkatesh Iyer for a whopping $2.7m (INR 23.75 crore) at last year's mega IPL auction, making him the third-most-expensive player in tournament history.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) new vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer admitted feeling pressured by the auction price tag ahead of IPL 2025 starting March 22. Iyer, 30, was not among the six players retained by the defending champions before the mega auction in December but became the third-most-expensive buy in IPL history, with KKR bagging his services for a whopping $2.7m (INR 23.75 crore). His auction bid indicated how much KKR valued him, who played a handy role in them winning the previous edition – their third in IPL history. However, with no outright captaincy choice available in the squad, the speculations of KKR appointing him as the new captain began doing rounds on social media. But instead, they handpicked seasoned campaigner Ajinkya Rahane as the new skipper, with Iyer being his deputy. Also read | IPL 2025: KL Rahul opens up on auction & Delhi Capitals move: 'A nerve-wracking experience' Speaking to the media ahead of the start of the 18th edition, Iyer spoke of the reality of the price tag pressure and how Dwayne Bravo’s appointment as the new mentor will boost their chances of retaining their IPL title. Bravo replaced Gautam Gambhir, who took up India’s head coach role after guiding KKR home the last season. “He's been the most successful T20 player in history, so he brings a lot of experience to the table. Nothing can beat experience. He's played so many games; he's won so many games for West Indies and the franchises that he's played for,” Iyer said of T20 great Bravo. "It exists. You can't ignore it altogether, but when the IPL starts, it really doesn't matter. You're a part of a playing XI, a part of a team that is going out there to win,” Iyer said of his price tag. ‘Honour to lead KKR’ Rahane felt grateful about getting appointed as KKR’s new captain ahead of IPL 2025. Speaking to the media, he acknowledged the management for showing trust in him, adding that he cares about the team more than his batting position, with KKR already having plenty of top-order options. "It's an honour for me to lead this wonderful franchise. I'm really thankful and grateful to the management for giving me this opportunity," Rahane said. "For me, it is always about keeping it simple... We will obviously give our best this season." "I have always played wherever the team wanted me to play. Team thinking has always come first,” Rahane said of batting position. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Price tag pressure exists but once you’re…,’ KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer ahead of IPL 2025

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season is all set for a grand start as defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Eden Gardens on Saturday (Mar 22). Ahead of the clash, star batter Virat Kohli joined the camp as he looks to win his maiden IPL title. Virat joins the RCB camp just a week after winning the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai against New Zealand.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Virat joins RCB squad</h2>
One of the best players of his generation, the IPL title remains the only thing missing from Virat&rsquo;s trophy cabinet as he hunts for the coveted title. Virat&rsquo;s presence in the squad should lift the spirits as RCB get ready for the IPL 2025. During Virat&rsquo;s previous 17 seasons with RCB, they have finished runners-up on three occasions and were eliminated in the playoffs in 2024.
However, the former RCB captain returns to the RCB camp with two ICC trophies under his belt having lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Virat will be joined by a few new names in the squad after the overhaul in the mega auctions in November. Liam Livingstone, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Romario Shepherd and others are few names added to the roster of the RCB squad.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/all-50-pakistan-cricketers-overlooked-in-the-hundred-draft-heres-why-8854794" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft &ndash; Here's why</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">RCB squad for IPL 2025</h2>
Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone (Rs. 8.75 crore), Phil Salt (Rs. 11.50 crore), Jitesh Sharma (Rs. 11 crore), Josh Hazlewood (Rs. 12.50 crore), Rasikh Dar (Rs. 6 crore), Suyash Sharma (Rs. 2.60 crore), Krunal Pandya (Rs. 5.75 crore), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Rs. 10.75 crore), Swapnil Singh (Rs. 50 lakh), Tim David (Rs. 3 crore), Romario Shepherd (Rs. 1.50 crore), Nuwan Thushara (Rs. 1.60 crore), Manoj Bhandage (Rs. 30 lakh), Jacob Bethell (Rs. 2.60 crore), Devdutt Padikkal (Rs. 2 crore), Swastik Chhikara (Rs. 30 lakh), Lungi Ngidi (Rs. 1 crore), Abhinandan Singh (Rs. 30 lakh), Mohit Rathee (Rs. 30 lakh).

Sports, Cricket, IPL: The Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season is all set for a grand start as defending champions KKR take on RCB at the Eden Gardens on Saturday (Mar 22).

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season is all set for a grand start as defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Eden Gardens on Saturday (Mar 22). Ahead of the clash, star batter Virat Kohli joined the camp as he looks to win his maiden IPL title. Virat joins the RCB camp just a week after winning the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai against New Zealand. Virat joins RCB squad One of the best players of his generation, the IPL title remains the only thing missing from Virat’s trophy cabinet as he hunts for the coveted title. Virat’s presence in the squad should lift the spirits as RCB get ready for the IPL 2025. During Virat’s previous 17 seasons with RCB, they have finished runners-up on three occasions and were eliminated in the playoffs in 2024. However, the former RCB captain returns to the RCB camp with two ICC trophies under his belt having lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Virat will be joined by a few new names in the squad after the overhaul in the mega auctions in November. Liam Livingstone, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Romario Shepherd and others are few names added to the roster of the RCB squad. ALSO READ | All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft – Here's why RCB squad for IPL 2025 Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone (Rs. 8.75 crore), Phil Salt (Rs. 11.50 crore), Jitesh Sharma (Rs. 11 crore), Josh Hazlewood (Rs. 12.50 crore), Rasikh Dar (Rs. 6 crore), Suyash Sharma (Rs. 2.60 crore), Krunal Pandya (Rs. 5.75 crore), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Rs. 10.75 crore), Swapnil Singh (Rs. 50 lakh), Tim David (Rs. 3 crore), Romario Shepherd (Rs. 1.50 crore), Nuwan Thushara (Rs. 1.60 crore), Manoj Bhandage (Rs. 30 lakh), Jacob Bethell (Rs. 2.60 crore), Devdutt Padikkal (Rs. 2 crore), Swastik Chhikara (Rs. 30 lakh), Lungi Ngidi (Rs. 1 crore), Abhinandan Singh (Rs. 30 lakh), Mohit Rathee (Rs. 30 lakh).

IPL 2025: Virat Kohli joins Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad ahead of season opener against KKR

Ahead of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) 2025 season, India&rsquo;s wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul looked back on last year&rsquo;s auction and shared his excitement about joining Delhi Capitals.
Rahul, who captained <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lucknow-super-giants">Lucknow Super Giants</a> (LSG) for the past three seasons, was released by the franchise ahead of the auction. Delhi Capitals secured his services for $1 million (₹14 crore) after parting ways with their star wicketkeeper-batter and captain, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a>. However, Rahul will focus solely on wicketkeeping duties as Delhi has appointed Axar Patel as their new captain.
"The auction was a nerve-wracking experience," Rahul admitted while speaking to digital broacaster Star. "As a player, not knowing where you will end up is never easy. Over the years, I have seen how unpredictable auctions can be&mdash;there&rsquo;s no set pattern. As a captain, I was involved in building a team, so I understand the pressure franchises face. But as a player, it's even tougher because your career is at stake."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/nz-vs-pak-free-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-new-zealand-vs-pakistan-1st-t20i-live-online-8855172">NZ vs PAK Free Live Streaming || When and where to watch New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I live online</a>
Rahul acknowledged that auctions could shape a player's future or bring unexpected challenges. "I was nervous, even a little anxious. But at the same time, I knew this was the right step for my career. There was excitement, though it didn&rsquo;t last long because reality set in quickly. I&rsquo;m really happy to join Delhi Capitals. Parth Jindal, the team&rsquo;s owner, is a close friend, and we&rsquo;ve had many discussions about cricket beyond the field. I know how passionate he is about the sport, and I&rsquo;m thrilled to be part of this team. We have a strong squad, and I&rsquo;m looking forward to the season ahead," he added.
<h2>'Delhi has an ideal mix of players'</h2>
On the team's composition, Rahul believes Delhi has assembled a well-balanced squad with an ideal mix of experienced players and young talent.
"This is a new experience for me&mdash;joining my fourth or fifth IPL franchise. It&rsquo;s both exciting and nerve-wracking. Every new team brings uncertainties&mdash;how the players will gel, how the management operates, and how the fans will react. But looking at our squad and how the management has built this team, we seem to have most areas covered," he noted.
"There&rsquo;s a great mix of seasoned players and young talent. I am eager to play alongside some incredibly skilled youngsters and learn from them as well. With players like Mitchell Starc, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/axar-patel">Axar Patel</a>, and Kuldeep Yadav&mdash;many of whom I&rsquo;ve played with before&mdash;we have a solid squad. I can&rsquo;t wait for the IPL to begin," the 32-year-old added.
Delhi Capitals will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Rahul&rsquo;s former team, Lucknow Super Giants, in Visakhapatnam on March 23.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Rahul, who captained Lucknow Super Giants for the past three seasons, was released by the franchise ahead of the auction. Delhi Capitals secured him for $1 million

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, India’s wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul looked back on last year’s auction and shared his excitement about joining Delhi Capitals. Rahul, who captained Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the past three seasons, was released by the franchise ahead of the auction. Delhi Capitals secured his services for $1 million (₹14 crore) after parting ways with their star wicketkeeper-batter and captain, Rishabh Pant. However, Rahul will focus solely on wicketkeeping duties as Delhi has appointed Axar Patel as their new captain. "The auction was a nerve-wracking experience," Rahul admitted while speaking to digital broacaster Star. "As a player, not knowing where you will end up is never easy. Over the years, I have seen how unpredictable auctions can be—there’s no set pattern. As a captain, I was involved in building a team, so I understand the pressure franchises face. But as a player, it's even tougher because your career is at stake." Also Read: NZ vs PAK Free Live Streaming || When and where to watch New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I live online Rahul acknowledged that auctions could shape a player's future or bring unexpected challenges. "I was nervous, even a little anxious. But at the same time, I knew this was the right step for my career. There was excitement, though it didn’t last long because reality set in quickly. I’m really happy to join Delhi Capitals. Parth Jindal, the team’s owner, is a close friend, and we’ve had many discussions about cricket beyond the field. I know how passionate he is about the sport, and I’m thrilled to be part of this team. We have a strong squad, and I’m looking forward to the season ahead," he added. 'Delhi has an ideal mix of players' On the team's composition, Rahul believes Delhi has assembled a well-balanced squad with an ideal mix of experienced players and young talent. "This is a new experience for me—joining my fourth or fifth IPL franchise. It’s both exciting and nerve-wracking. Every new team brings uncertainties—how the players will gel, how the management operates, and how the fans will react. But looking at our squad and how the management has built this team, we seem to have most areas covered," he noted. "There’s a great mix of seasoned players and young talent. I am eager to play alongside some incredibly skilled youngsters and learn from them as well. With players like Mitchell Starc, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav—many of whom I’ve played with before—we have a solid squad. I can’t wait for the IPL to begin," the 32-year-old added. Delhi Capitals will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Rahul’s former team, Lucknow Super Giants, in Visakhapatnam on March 23. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: KL Rahul opens up on auction, Delhi Capitals move: 'A nerve-wracking experience'

NZ vs PAK, 1st T20I Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;A week after losing the Champions Trophy 2025 final, New Zealand will look to bounce back as they take on Pakistan in a five-match T20I series. Having fallen short of the Champions Trophy triumph, New Zealand will have the opportunity to put behind the disappointment. At the same time, Pakistan also look to rebuild having gone winless during the coveted ICC tournament. Ahead of the opening T20I contest between New Zealand and Pakistan, here are all the details.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I&nbsp;on TV?</h2>
The New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I will be telecast on Sony Sports Network in India.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I Live Streaming online on OTT?</h2>
The New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I will be live-streamed on the Sony Liv app and website in India.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Which stadium will host the New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I?</h2>
The New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What time will the New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I?</h2>
The New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I will start at 2:15 PM local time (6:45 AM IST) on Sunday (Mar 16) with the toss taking place at 1:45 PM local time (6:15 AM IST).
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/all-50-pakistan-cricketers-overlooked-in-the-hundred-draft-heres-why-8854794" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft &ndash; Here's why</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Squads<o:p></o:p></h2>
New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes (matches 4-5), Mitch Hay, Matt Henry (matches 4-5), Kyle Jamieson (matches 1-3), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Will O&rsquo;Rourke (matches 1-3), Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
Pakistan:&nbsp;Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem and Tayyab Tahir.

Sports, Cricket: A week after losing the Champions Trophy 2025 final, New Zealand will look to bounce back as they take on Pakistan in a five-match T20I series.

NZ vs PAK, 1st T20I Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: A week after losing the Champions Trophy 2025 final, New Zealand will look to bounce back as they take on Pakistan in a five-match T20I series. Having fallen short of the Champions Trophy triumph, New Zealand will have the opportunity to put behind the disappointment. At the same time, Pakistan also look to rebuild having gone winless during the coveted ICC tournament. Ahead of the opening T20I contest between New Zealand and Pakistan, here are all the details. Where to watch the New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I on TV? The New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I will be telecast on Sony Sports Network in India. Where to watch the New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I Live Streaming online on OTT? The New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I will be live-streamed on the Sony Liv app and website in India. Which stadium will host the New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I? The New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. What time will the New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I? The New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I will start at 2:15 PM local time (6:45 AM IST) on Sunday (Mar 16) with the toss taking place at 1:45 PM local time (6:15 AM IST). ALSO READ | All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft – Here's why Squads New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes (matches 4-5), Mitch Hay, Matt Henry (matches 4-5), Kyle Jamieson (matches 1-3), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke (matches 1-3), Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem and Tayyab Tahir.

NZ vs PAK Free Live Streaming || When and where to watch New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I live online

Australian all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/annabel-sutherland">Annabel Sutherland</a> has emphasised the importance of preparation as the 2025 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup approaches.
"We want as much intel as possible before playing the game. It is back in everyone's mind that the World Cup is coming up later this year," Sutherland was quoted saying to ESPNcricinfo.
A dynamic player known for her all-round abilities, Sutherland made her international debut in 2020 after excelling in domestic cricket with Victoria and the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL. One of her standout performances came in the 2024 Test match against South Africa at the WACA, where she scored a stunning 210 runs and picked five wickets.
<h2 data-start="1201" data-end="1257">WPL vs WBBL</h2>
Having featured in both the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/womens-premier-league">Women's Premier League</a> (WPL), Sutherland shared her perspective on the contrasting cricketing cultures in Australia and India.
"Culturally, there's a significant difference with the Indian local players. I have really enjoyed spending time and getting to know them; that's a pretty cool part of playing the WPL. The WBBL has been around for ten years, so domestic players there are probably a bit more experienced and have a certain level of calmness. Indian players will continue improving with more exposure to high-pressure games," she explained.
When asked if she was working on any new bowling variations, Sutherland kept things under wraps.&nbsp;"Not that I'm willing to reveal. I'm always working on different things, but that's for everyone to see on the field," she said with a smile.
<h2 data-start="2174" data-end="2222">Crowd atmosphere: Chinnaswamy vs MCG</h2>
Comparing the energy of fans at Bengaluru&rsquo;s M. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chinnaswamy-stadium" rel="dofollow">Chinnaswamy Stadium</a> with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/melbourne-cricket-ground">Melbourne Cricket Ground</a> (MCG), Sutherland acknowledged the passionate Indian crowd.&nbsp;"Not intimidated. You have to embrace it. Indian crowds can be louder than 86,000 at the 'G'. They put up a pretty good competition in terms of noise, but atmosphere-wise, it&rsquo;s hard to beat an MCG final," she opined.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Sutherland highlighted the challenge of adapting to different venues.&nbsp;"The key part of a World Cup is moving around and playing at different venues. You want to get as much intel as possible before each game," she reiterated.
The 2025 ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup, set to be the 13th edition, will take place in India, marking the country's fourth time as hosts after 1978, 1997, and 2013. This tournament will also be the last to feature just eight teams. Defending champions Australia will aim to secure their eighth title after their 2022 triumph.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Sutherland made her international debut in 2020 after excelling in domestic cricket with Victoria and the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL

Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland has emphasised the importance of preparation as the 2025 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup approaches. "We want as much intel as possible before playing the game. It is back in everyone's mind that the World Cup is coming up later this year," Sutherland was quoted saying to ESPNcricinfo. A dynamic player known for her all-round abilities, Sutherland made her international debut in 2020 after excelling in domestic cricket with Victoria and the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL. One of her standout performances came in the 2024 Test match against South Africa at the WACA, where she scored a stunning 210 runs and picked five wickets. WPL vs WBBL Having featured in both the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and the Women's Premier League (WPL), Sutherland shared her perspective on the contrasting cricketing cultures in Australia and India. "Culturally, there's a significant difference with the Indian local players. I have really enjoyed spending time and getting to know them; that's a pretty cool part of playing the WPL. The WBBL has been around for ten years, so domestic players there are probably a bit more experienced and have a certain level of calmness. Indian players will continue improving with more exposure to high-pressure games," she explained. When asked if she was working on any new bowling variations, Sutherland kept things under wraps. "Not that I'm willing to reveal. I'm always working on different things, but that's for everyone to see on the field," she said with a smile. Crowd atmosphere: Chinnaswamy vs MCG Comparing the energy of fans at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium with the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Sutherland acknowledged the passionate Indian crowd. "Not intimidated. You have to embrace it. Indian crowds can be louder than 86,000 at the 'G'. They put up a pretty good competition in terms of noise, but atmosphere-wise, it’s hard to beat an MCG final," she opined. Looking ahead to the World Cup, Sutherland highlighted the challenge of adapting to different venues. "The key part of a World Cup is moving around and playing at different venues. You want to get as much intel as possible before each game," she reiterated. The 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, set to be the 13th edition, will take place in India, marking the country's fourth time as hosts after 1978, 1997, and 2013. This tournament will also be the last to feature just eight teams. Defending champions Australia will aim to secure their eighth title after their 2022 triumph. (With inputs from agencies)

WPL 2025: Indian crowd vs MCG? Australian all-rounder and Delhi Capitals' Annabel Sutherland weighs in

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals have announced T20 World Cup 2004 and Champions Trophy 2025-winning all-rounder Axar Patel as their new captain ahead of the 2025 season. The new IPL season begins on March 22 when defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Delhi was the only franchise who haven't announced their captain so far with all nine teams already settled on who will lead them in IPL 2025.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/unfair-advantage-if-aussie-great-mcgrath-shuts-down-doubters-after-indias-champions-trophy-win-8852376">'Unfair advantage if...,' Aussie great McGrath shuts down doubters after India's Champions Trophy win</a>
"It is my absolute honour to captain the Delhi Capitals, and I'm deeply grateful to our owners and support staff for placing their faith in me," Axar said in a statement released by DC.
"I've grown as a cricketer and a human being during my time here at the Capitals, and I feel ready and confident to lead this side going forward.
"Our coaches and scouts have done a superb job at the mega-auction by putting together a balanced and robust squad, which has tremendous potential. We have plenty of leaders in the group, which is also very helpful for me, and I can't wait to join the team as we look forward to a very successful season for the Capitals, backed by the immense love and support of our fans," he added.
Previously, Axar had led&nbsp;DC in one off-game in the 2024 season but faced a loss in it. The 31-year-old has also led his team Gujarat in 23 domestic matches across formats, with most recent being in T20 tournament Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Axar is the most experienced player for DC with 82 games after Rishabh Pant's departure in the IPL auction in November last year. He scored 235 runs last season and took 11 wickets as well.
Axar's stocks have risen sharply in the national set-up in recent times, so much so that he now bats at number five for India in the ODIs. He is seen as a direct replacement for Ravindra Jadeja's left-arm orthodox bowling and useful batting down the order.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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