In a sweet and heartwarming gesture, Mumbai Indians captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/hardik-pandya">Hardik Pandya</a> kept his word and gifted his bat to pace-bowling woman all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kashvee-gautam">Kashvee Gautam</a> ahead of her potential India debut.
Pandya met Kashvee (who plays for Gujarat Giants) during the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/womens-premier-league">Women's Premier League</a> (WPL) match against Mumbai Indians and promised to send a bat for her after he came to know that the Gujarat Giants player idolises him. She had even written HP33 on her bat.
Kashvee made her WPL debut in the 2025 season with Gujarat Giants and played nine matches. She picked 11 wickets and also scored 43 runs. The 21-year-old was the leading wicket-taker for her franchise in the tournament. Her performance bagged her maiden India call-up for the tri-nation One-day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka and South Africa starting on April 27. India will take on Sri Lanka women in the opening match on April 27.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/billie-jean-king-cup-2025-shrivalli-ankita-and-prarthana-script-history-to-help-india-qualify-for-playoffs-8957405">Billie Jean King Cup 2025: Shrivalli, Ankita and Prarthana script history to help India qualify for playoffs</a>
Kashvee's second meeting with Pandya took place at the Arun Jaitely Stadium, New Delhi, ahead of the Mumbai Indians' Sunday match against the Delhi Capitals. The MI captain congratulated Kashvee for her maiden call-up and wished her luck for the future.
<h2>See the heartwarming video:</h2>
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For Pandya, the ongoing IPL season has not been so great as Mumbai has only managed to win one in four matches. Mumbai is placed at the penultimate spot in the points table with two points. Mumbai Indians suffered a 12-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Wankhede Stadium earlier this week.
On the other hand, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/axar-patel">Axar Patel</a>-led Delhi Capitals have been on a roll with four successive wins in as many games. The only unbeaten team in the league so far, they are placed at the top of the table with eight points, ahead of Gujarat Titans, on basis of net run rate.
In their last match, KL Rahul's unbeaten 93 powered Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday.
(With inputs from agencies)

India News, Cricket, Sports: Kashvee made her WPL debut in the 2025 season with Gujarat Giants and played nine matches. She claimed 11 wickets and also scored 43 runs

In a sweet and heartwarming gesture, Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya kept his word and gifted his bat to pace-bowling woman all-rounder Kashvee Gautam ahead of her potential India debut. Pandya met Kashvee (who plays for Gujarat Giants) during the Women's Premier League (WPL) match against Mumbai Indians and promised to send a bat for her after he came to know that the Gujarat Giants player idolises him. She had even written HP33 on her bat. Kashvee made her WPL debut in the 2025 season with Gujarat Giants and played nine matches. She picked 11 wickets and also scored 43 runs. The 21-year-old was the leading wicket-taker for her franchise in the tournament. Her performance bagged her maiden India call-up for the tri-nation One-day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka and South Africa starting on April 27. India will take on Sri Lanka women in the opening match on April 27. Also Read: Billie Jean King Cup 2025: Shrivalli, Ankita and Prarthana script history to help India qualify for playoffs Kashvee's second meeting with Pandya took place at the Arun Jaitely Stadium, New Delhi, ahead of the Mumbai Indians' Sunday match against the Delhi Capitals. The MI captain congratulated Kashvee for her maiden call-up and wished her luck for the future. See the heartwarming video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kashvee Gautam🕉 (@kashvee_18_) For Pandya, the ongoing IPL season has not been so great as Mumbai has only managed to win one in four matches. Mumbai is placed at the penultimate spot in the points table with two points. Mumbai Indians suffered a 12-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Wankhede Stadium earlier this week. On the other hand, the Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals have been on a roll with four successive wins in as many games. The only unbeaten team in the league so far, they are placed at the top of the table with eight points, ahead of Gujarat Titans, on basis of net run rate. In their last match, KL Rahul's unbeaten 93 powered Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: In a heartwarming gesture, MI captain Hardik Pandya gifts his bat to Kashvee Gautam ahead of DC clash-WATCH

Delhi Capitals' KL Rahul was sensational during his innings of 93 off 53 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Friday (Apr 10) in Bengaluru. Rahul's innings ensured that DC keep their unbeaten streak on as they won the match by six wickets.
It was, however, Rahul's celebration after winning the match which got everybody's attention. Needing one run to win, Rahul smashed a six in the 18th over to finish the match. He gestured to the pitch after the six and then to himself so to say 'this is his ground' and emulated to hoist the bat in the ground - like a warrior does with his sword after victory over the enemy.
Also Read - <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/dhoni-csk-captain-for-rest-of-season-ipl-2025-a-young-wicketkeeper-leading-the-team-gaikwad-makes-cheeky-remark-dhoni-news-8950080" aria-label="IPL 2025 | 'A young wicketkeeper leading the team...,' Gaikwad makes CHEEKY remark on Dhoni leading CSK for rest of season">IPL 2025 | 'A young wicketkeeper leading the team...,' Gaikwad makes CHEEKY remark on Dhoni leading CSK for rest of season</a>
The celebration stunned RCB's Tim David who was seen replicating with former RCB and ow DC player Faf du Plessis after the match. Have a look at the video:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Even Tim David was talking about KL Rahul's cold celebration 🥶🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KLRahul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KLRahul</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCBvsDC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCBvsDC</a> <a href="https://t.co/yMALJqTXnf">pic.twitter.com/yMALJqTXnf</a>
&mdash; Nitesh Sharma (@im_nitesh26) <a href="https://twitter.com/im_nitesh26/status/1910406268461719627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>

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Rahul, who changed his team in IPL 2025 mega auction from LSG to DC, spoke about his innings after the match and said: "If I wanted to hit a big six, I knew what pockets to target, and keeping gave me a feeler for where other batters were dismissed and where they hit the sixes. Got lucky with the dropped catch. This is my ground, my home, know this (ground) better than anyone else."
RCB started well being put to bat first as Phil Salt and Virat Kohli added 61 runs in 3.4 over before a mix-up led to Salt being run out. Devdutt Padikkal and Kohli perished soon after as RCB were brought down to 91/4 inside 10 overs. They could never recover from that position. Had it not been for Tim David's unbeaten 37 off 20 balls - RCB's 163/7 would have not been possible.&nbsp;
During the chase, RCB once again showed some teeth and took three wickets inside powerplay for just 30 runs. After being reduced to 58/4 in 9th over, Rahul took charge of the innings with Tristan Stubbs who also scored 38 not out of 23 balls.
The duo added 111 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket - the highest for DC in IPL history - going past JP Duminy and Ross Taylor's 110 as the match was over with 13 balls remaining.&nbsp;

Chasing a modest 164, Rahul led the charge with unbeaten 93 off 53 balls laced with seven fours and six sixes - his second consecutive fifty this season. India news Cricket Sports

Delhi Capitals' KL Rahul was sensational during his innings of 93 off 53 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Friday (Apr 10) in Bengaluru. Rahul's innings ensured that DC keep their unbeaten streak on as they won the match by six wickets. It was, however, Rahul's celebration after winning the match which got everybody's attention. Needing one run to win, Rahul smashed a six in the 18th over to finish the match. He gestured to the pitch after the six and then to himself so to say 'this is his ground' and emulated to hoist the bat in the ground - like a warrior does with his sword after victory over the enemy. Also Read - IPL 2025 | 'A young wicketkeeper leading the team...,' Gaikwad makes CHEEKY remark on Dhoni leading CSK for rest of season The celebration stunned RCB's Tim David who was seen replicating with former RCB and ow DC player Faf du Plessis after the match. Have a look at the video: Even Tim David was talking about KL Rahul's cold celebration 🥶🔥#KLRahul #RCBvsDC pic.twitter.com/yMALJqTXnf — Nitesh Sharma (@im_nitesh26) April 10, 2025 Rahul, who changed his team in IPL 2025 mega auction from LSG to DC, spoke about his innings after the match and said: "If I wanted to hit a big six, I knew what pockets to target, and keeping gave me a feeler for where other batters were dismissed and where they hit the sixes. Got lucky with the dropped catch. This is my ground, my home, know this (ground) better than anyone else." RCB started well being put to bat first as Phil Salt and Virat Kohli added 61 runs in 3.4 over before a mix-up led to Salt being run out. Devdutt Padikkal and Kohli perished soon after as RCB were brought down to 91/4 inside 10 overs. They could never recover from that position. Had it not been for Tim David's unbeaten 37 off 20 balls - RCB's 163/7 would have not been possible. During the chase, RCB once again showed some teeth and took three wickets inside powerplay for just 30 runs. After being reduced to 58/4 in 9th over, Rahul took charge of the innings with Tristan Stubbs who also scored 38 not out of 23 balls. The duo added 111 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket - the highest for DC in IPL history - going past JP Duminy and Ross Taylor's 110 as the match was over with 13 balls remaining.

IPL 2025 | 'Like a warrior': RCB's Tim David, stunned, emulates KL Rahul's 'THIS IS MY GROUND' celebration after loss vs DC

Delhi Capitals (DC) batter KL Rahul was at his absolute best in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match against Royal Challengers. Chasing a modest 164, Rahul led the charge with unbeaten 93 off 53 balls laced with seven fours and six sixes - his second consecutive fifty this season. DC eventually won the match by six wickets - their fourth win in four games in IPL 2025.
Rahul, who changed his team in IPL 2025 mega auction from LSG to DC, spoke about his innings after the match and said: "If I wanted to hit a big six, I knew what pockets to target, and keeping gave me a feeler for where other batters were dismissed and where they hit the sixes. Got lucky with the dropped catch. This is my ground, my home, know this (ground) better than anyone else."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/dhoni-csk-captain-for-rest-of-season-ipl-2025-a-young-wicketkeeper-leading-the-team-gaikwad-makes-cheeky-remark-dhoni-news-8950080">IPL 2025 | 'A young wicketkeeper leading the team...,' Gaikwad makes CHEEKY remark on Dhoni leading CSK for rest of season</a>
As for RCB, this was their second loss of the season in five games and both of them have ironically come at their home ground.'
RCB started well being put to bat first as Phil Salt and Virat Kohli added 61 runs in 3.4 over before a mix-up led to Salt being run out. Devdutt Padikkal and Kohli perished soon after as RCB were brought down to 91/4 inside 10 overs. They could never recover from that position. Had it not been for Tim David's unbeaten 37 off 20 balls - RCB's 163/7 would have not been possible.&nbsp;
During the chase, RCB once again showed some teeth and took three wickets inside powerplay for just 30 runs. After being reduced to 58/4 in 9th over, Rahul took charge of the innings with Tristan Stubbs who also scored 38 not out of 23 balls.
The duo added 111 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket - the highest for DC in IPL history - going past JP Duminy and Ross Taylor's 110 as the match was over with 13 balls remaining.&nbsp;

Rahul and Stubbs added 111 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket - the highest for DC in IPL history - as the match was over with 13 balls remaining.  Cricket Sports

Delhi Capitals (DC) batter KL Rahul was at his absolute best in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match against Royal Challengers. Chasing a modest 164, Rahul led the charge with unbeaten 93 off 53 balls laced with seven fours and six sixes - his second consecutive fifty this season. DC eventually won the match by six wickets - their fourth win in four games in IPL 2025. Rahul, who changed his team in IPL 2025 mega auction from LSG to DC, spoke about his innings after the match and said: "If I wanted to hit a big six, I knew what pockets to target, and keeping gave me a feeler for where other batters were dismissed and where they hit the sixes. Got lucky with the dropped catch. This is my ground, my home, know this (ground) better than anyone else." Also Read: IPL 2025 | 'A young wicketkeeper leading the team...,' Gaikwad makes CHEEKY remark on Dhoni leading CSK for rest of season As for RCB, this was their second loss of the season in five games and both of them have ironically come at their home ground.' RCB started well being put to bat first as Phil Salt and Virat Kohli added 61 runs in 3.4 over before a mix-up led to Salt being run out. Devdutt Padikkal and Kohli perished soon after as RCB were brought down to 91/4 inside 10 overs. They could never recover from that position. Had it not been for Tim David's unbeaten 37 off 20 balls - RCB's 163/7 would have not been possible. During the chase, RCB once again showed some teeth and took three wickets inside powerplay for just 30 runs. After being reduced to 58/4 in 9th over, Rahul took charge of the innings with Tristan Stubbs who also scored 38 not out of 23 balls. The duo added 111 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket - the highest for DC in IPL history - going past JP Duminy and Ross Taylor's 110 as the match was over with 13 balls remaining.

IPL 2025 | 'This is my ground, my home,' asserts local boy KL Rahul after helping DC beat home team RCB in Bengaluru

22 out of 70 league matches of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season are done and it is proving to be a batter's paradise so far. In 44 innings played, 15 time 200-run mark has been breached - that is nearly one third of the innings. The highest score this season so far has been 286/6 - by SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) against Rajasthan Royals in only the second match of the season.
All 10 teams have played at least three games so far this season with DC scoring the least runs among all - 560 in 55.3 overs at around 10 runs per over but they have played only three matches. The team with most runs is Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) - 1,014 runs in 96.1 overs at 10.55 runs per over in five games.
Also Read - <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-been-a-frustrating-season-so-far-acknowledges-csk-coach-fleming-after-loss-vs-pbks-8942017" aria-label="IPL 2025 | 'Been a frustrating season so far' acknowledges CSK coach Fleming after loss vs PBKS">IPL 2025 | 'Been a frustrating season so far' acknowledges CSK coach Fleming after loss vs PBKS</a>
Overall, 8,125 runs have been scored this season in 848.2 overs across 22 games at an average run rate of 9.57. These runs are almost equally divided in first and second innings - 4,222 in 435 overs at 9.70 runs per over while batting first and 3,903 runs in 413.2 overs at 9.44 runs per over while chasing.
Talking about 200-plus scores, nine matches out of 22 have seen at least one innings crossing the mark. Out of 15 times 200-plus runs have been scored - teams batting first have done it nine times while the chasing teams have done it six times.
The 200-run scores have proved much difficult to chase as well - Out of nine times chasing, only once the 200-plus score has been chased down successfully - by Delhi Capitals against Lucknow Super Giants that too barely.
As for power hitting, already 407 sixes and 688 fours have been hit in 22 matches - a total of 1,095 boundaries in 22 matches - 49 boundaries each match or nearly 25 boundary each innings!
With one boundary (a four or a six) getting hit every five balls in the IPL 2025 - it is actually a nightmare for bowlers this season.

Already 407 sixes and 688 fours have been hit in 22 matches - a total of 1,095 boundaries in 22 matches - 49 boundaries each match or nearly 25 boundary each innings! Cricket Sports

22 out of 70 league matches of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season are done and it is proving to be a batter's paradise so far. In 44 innings played, 15 time 200-run mark has been breached - that is nearly one third of the innings. The highest score this season so far has been 286/6 - by SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) against Rajasthan Royals in only the second match of the season. All 10 teams have played at least three games so far this season with DC scoring the least runs among all - 560 in 55.3 overs at around 10 runs per over but they have played only three matches. The team with most runs is Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) - 1,014 runs in 96.1 overs at 10.55 runs per over in five games. Also Read - IPL 2025 | 'Been a frustrating season so far' acknowledges CSK coach Fleming after loss vs PBKS Overall, 8,125 runs have been scored this season in 848.2 overs across 22 games at an average run rate of 9.57. These runs are almost equally divided in first and second innings - 4,222 in 435 overs at 9.70 runs per over while batting first and 3,903 runs in 413.2 overs at 9.44 runs per over while chasing. Talking about 200-plus scores, nine matches out of 22 have seen at least one innings crossing the mark. Out of 15 times 200-plus runs have been scored - teams batting first have done it nine times while the chasing teams have done it six times. The 200-run scores have proved much difficult to chase as well - Out of nine times chasing, only once the 200-plus score has been chased down successfully - by Delhi Capitals against Lucknow Super Giants that too barely. As for power hitting, already 407 sixes and 688 fours have been hit in 22 matches - a total of 1,095 boundaries in 22 matches - 49 boundaries each match or nearly 25 boundary each innings! With one boundary (a four or a six) getting hit every five balls in the IPL 2025 - it is actually a nightmare for bowlers this season.

IPL 2025 | 'One boundary every five balls:' This season is turning out to be a nightmare for bowlers already

In the wake of Chennai Super Kings&rsquo; unexpected loss to Delhi Capitals, many fans and pundits have begun asking the same question: Is this the beginning of a rebuilding phase for the five-time champions?
Former CSK all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shane-watson">Shane Watson</a> believes the early signs suggest some unfamiliar turbulence for the usually rock-solid franchise. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a surprising start to the season,&rdquo; Watson admitted. &ldquo;CSK is known for clarity and consistency after auctions&mdash;roles are clearly defined, and they rarely shuffle combinations early in the season. But within just four games, we&rsquo;ve seen several adjustments. That&rsquo;s not the CSK I played for under Fleming and Dhoni.&rdquo;
The recent changes, particularly in the top order, are seen as both a response to issues and a path forward. &ldquo;Having Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra open, with Ruturaj Gaikwad at number three, brings stability. Earlier combinations, like Tripathi opening, left too many holes,&rdquo; Watson explained. &ldquo;If this top order gets a few games together, I believe they&rsquo;ll turn things around.&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohli-becomes-first-indian-to-reach-13000-run-mark-in-t20s-8936707">Virat Kohli becomes first Indian to reach 13,000-run mark in T20s</a>
Yet, questions persist&mdash;not just about team combinations, but leadership. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ruturaj-gaikwad">Ruturaj Gaikwad</a>, in his first year as captain, is still finding his rhythm. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a young captain with the best mentors in the world&mdash;MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming. But nothing replaces experience. It takes time to absorb everything, to balance preparation with instinct in the middle,&rdquo; said Watson. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s learning on the job and improving game by game.&rdquo;
One concern voiced by fans has been Gaikwad&rsquo;s handling of spinners in Chennai. &ldquo;Look, those decisions aren&rsquo;t solely his. There&rsquo;s a whole backroom setup feeding information. It's a collective call,&rdquo; Watson, JioStar Expert, said in an interaction to WION.&nbsp;&ldquo;Still, as he grows more confident, I expect him to trust his spinners more&mdash;especially on turning tracks at Chepauk.&rdquo;
<h2>'This is the most complete RCB squad ever'</h2>
Rivalry Week in the IPL only raises the stakes. From MI vs DC to GT vs LSG, Watson is most excited about Delhi vs Mumbai. &ldquo;Both teams have stacked line-ups. DC&rsquo;s squad is well-balanced, and MI with Bumrah back&mdash;this could be the match of the week,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Also, don&rsquo;t overlook <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/axar-patel">Axar Patel</a>. He&rsquo;s leading from the front for Delhi. He might just steal the show.&rdquo;
When asked about RCB, another franchise close to Watson&rsquo;s heart, he acknowledged their evolution. &ldquo;This is probably the most complete RCB squad ever. They&rsquo;ve always had the batting, but now their bowling has real depth. With Andy Flower at the helm and Kohli&rsquo;s presence, this team should dominate. If they don&rsquo;t go deep this year, I&rsquo;ll be surprised.&rdquo;
But what about CSK&rsquo;s chances to qualify for the playoffs? Watson didn&rsquo;t hesitate. &ldquo;Never write off CSK. They&rsquo;ve built a culture that knows how to win. The key will be their top order&mdash;give them a solid platform, and the rest of the batting will flourish.&rdquo;
Finally, on MS Dhoni&rsquo;s role and potential retirement, Watson was sentimental yet optimistic. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s still a treat to watch MS on the field. He&rsquo;s keeping beautifully and batting with intent. He&rsquo;s not the guy to bat 12 overs anymore&mdash;but coming in at 9th with 15 balls to go? He&rsquo;s still one of the best. Don&rsquo;t be surprised if he finishes a few games this season in classic Dhoni style.&rdquo;
And about CSK&rsquo;s approach with young players? &ldquo;CSK has always leaned towards experience, especially for big moments. Younger players are more inconsistent, even if they can produce brilliance. But CSK has unearthed talents like Ruturaj, and with time, I believe they&rsquo;ll continue blending youth with experience.&rdquo;
As IPL 2025 heats up, Watson&rsquo;s insights paint a picture of a league in flux&mdash;where legends like Dhoni continue to shape narratives, and new leaders like Gaikwad and Axar Patel step into the spotlight. Rivalries are intensifying, squads are evolving, and one thing is certain: The drama has only just begun.

Cricket, Sports: Former Chennai Super Kings' all-rounder Shane Watson believes the early signs suggest some unfamiliar turbulence for the usually rock-solid franchise

In the wake of Chennai Super Kings’ unexpected loss to Delhi Capitals, many fans and pundits have begun asking the same question: Is this the beginning of a rebuilding phase for the five-time champions? Former CSK all-rounder Shane Watson believes the early signs suggest some unfamiliar turbulence for the usually rock-solid franchise. “It’s been a surprising start to the season,” Watson admitted. “CSK is known for clarity and consistency after auctions—roles are clearly defined, and they rarely shuffle combinations early in the season. But within just four games, we’ve seen several adjustments. That’s not the CSK I played for under Fleming and Dhoni.” The recent changes, particularly in the top order, are seen as both a response to issues and a path forward. “Having Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra open, with Ruturaj Gaikwad at number three, brings stability. Earlier combinations, like Tripathi opening, left too many holes,” Watson explained. “If this top order gets a few games together, I believe they’ll turn things around.” Also Read: Virat Kohli becomes first Indian to reach 13,000-run mark in T20s Yet, questions persist—not just about team combinations, but leadership. Ruturaj Gaikwad, in his first year as captain, is still finding his rhythm. “He’s a young captain with the best mentors in the world—MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming. But nothing replaces experience. It takes time to absorb everything, to balance preparation with instinct in the middle,” said Watson. “He’s learning on the job and improving game by game.” One concern voiced by fans has been Gaikwad’s handling of spinners in Chennai. “Look, those decisions aren’t solely his. There’s a whole backroom setup feeding information. It's a collective call,” Watson, JioStar Expert, said in an interaction to WION. “Still, as he grows more confident, I expect him to trust his spinners more—especially on turning tracks at Chepauk.” 'This is the most complete RCB squad ever' Rivalry Week in the IPL only raises the stakes. From MI vs DC to GT vs LSG, Watson is most excited about Delhi vs Mumbai. “Both teams have stacked line-ups. DC’s squad is well-balanced, and MI with Bumrah back—this could be the match of the week,” he said. “Also, don’t overlook Axar Patel. He’s leading from the front for Delhi. He might just steal the show.” When asked about RCB, another franchise close to Watson’s heart, he acknowledged their evolution. “This is probably the most complete RCB squad ever. They’ve always had the batting, but now their bowling has real depth. With Andy Flower at the helm and Kohli’s presence, this team should dominate. If they don’t go deep this year, I’ll be surprised.” But what about CSK’s chances to qualify for the playoffs? Watson didn’t hesitate. “Never write off CSK. They’ve built a culture that knows how to win. The key will be their top order—give them a solid platform, and the rest of the batting will flourish.” Finally, on MS Dhoni’s role and potential retirement, Watson was sentimental yet optimistic. “It’s still a treat to watch MS on the field. He’s keeping beautifully and batting with intent. He’s not the guy to bat 12 overs anymore—but coming in at 9th with 15 balls to go? He’s still one of the best. Don’t be surprised if he finishes a few games this season in classic Dhoni style.” And about CSK’s approach with young players? “CSK has always leaned towards experience, especially for big moments. Younger players are more inconsistent, even if they can produce brilliance. But CSK has unearthed talents like Ruturaj, and with time, I believe they’ll continue blending youth with experience.” As IPL 2025 heats up, Watson’s insights paint a picture of a league in flux—where legends like Dhoni continue to shape narratives, and new leaders like Gaikwad and Axar Patel step into the spotlight. Rivalries are intensifying, squads are evolving, and one thing is certain: The drama has only just begun.

Exclusive | IPL 2025: Never write off Yellow Army: Here's what former CSK opening batter said about team's chance of making to playoffs

KL Rahul has hit the ground running in IPL 2025, making an immediate impact after missing the Delhi Capitals' (DC) first two matches due to paternity leave. In his debut outing this season, Rahul smashed 15 off just 5 deliveries, and followed it up with a match-winning 77 off 51 balls against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday&mdash;signaling a notable shift in intent and approach.
This new attacking mindset is a departure from the cautious <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kl-rahul">KL Rahul</a> fans had seen in previous IPL seasons. Since 2019, he hadn&rsquo;t crossed a strike rate of 138.8 in any edition. His intent dipped notably in 2020 (129.34) and hit a low in 2023 (113.22). Despite piling up 520&ndash;670 runs in every full season (barring 2023 when he played only nine matches), his style was often criticized for lacking aggression.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-he-should-have-retired-in-former-india-cricketer-criticises-ms-dhoni-after-csks-loss-to-delhi-8931443">IPL 2025: 'He should have retired in...', former India cricketer criticises MS Dhoni after CSK's loss to Delhi</a>
Now, at DC and free from captaincy pressure that followed him during his stint with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rahul seems revitalised.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve worked really hard on my white-ball game over the past year,&rdquo; Rahul shared in a chat with DC mentor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kevin-pietersen">Kevin Pietersen</a> on iplt20.com, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. &ldquo;A big shoutout to Abhishek Nayar. We&rsquo;ve spent countless hours working on my white-ball game in Bombay. Somewhere along the way, I&rsquo;ve rediscovered the fun of playing this format.&rdquo;
<h2>'In T20s, it is all about boundaries'&nbsp;</h2>
His confidence was also visible during India&rsquo;s victorious <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> campaign earlier this year, where he played a key dual role as wicketkeeper and finisher&mdash;scoring 140 runs in four innings without being dismissed in three, at a strike rate of 97.90, with five fours and five sixes.
In IPL 2025 so far, Rahul has already notched up eight boundaries and four sixes. If this form holds, he&rsquo;s well on course to surpass his 2024 numbers&mdash;45 fours and 19 sixes&mdash;in what was a tumultuous season. His tense on-field discussion with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lucknow-super-giants">LSG</a> owner Sanjeev Goenka made headlines and ultimately led to his release from the franchise. Goenka later remarked that he sought players with a stronger &ldquo;winning mindset.&rdquo;
Reflecting on his mindset change, Rahul told Pietersen, &ldquo;I think I lost the fun of hitting boundaries and sixes. I kept trying to take games deep, and that stuck in my head. But now, I&rsquo;ve realized that in T20s, it&rsquo;s all about boundaries&mdash;the team that hits more ends up winning.&rdquo;
&ldquo;So I&rsquo;m back to enjoying cricket again&mdash;seeing the ball, being aggressive, putting pressure on the bowler and just enjoying myself,&rdquo; he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Now, at Delhi Capitals and free from captaincy pressure that followed him during his stint with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), KL Rahul seems revitalised

KL Rahul has hit the ground running in IPL 2025, making an immediate impact after missing the Delhi Capitals' (DC) first two matches due to paternity leave. In his debut outing this season, Rahul smashed 15 off just 5 deliveries, and followed it up with a match-winning 77 off 51 balls against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday—signaling a notable shift in intent and approach. This new attacking mindset is a departure from the cautious KL Rahul fans had seen in previous IPL seasons. Since 2019, he hadn’t crossed a strike rate of 138.8 in any edition. His intent dipped notably in 2020 (129.34) and hit a low in 2023 (113.22). Despite piling up 520–670 runs in every full season (barring 2023 when he played only nine matches), his style was often criticized for lacking aggression. Also Read: IPL 2025: 'He should have retired in...', former India cricketer criticises MS Dhoni after CSK's loss to Delhi Now, at DC and free from captaincy pressure that followed him during his stint with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rahul seems revitalised. “I’ve worked really hard on my white-ball game over the past year,” Rahul shared in a chat with DC mentor Kevin Pietersen on iplt20.com, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “A big shoutout to Abhishek Nayar. We’ve spent countless hours working on my white-ball game in Bombay. Somewhere along the way, I’ve rediscovered the fun of playing this format.” 'In T20s, it is all about boundaries' His confidence was also visible during India’s victorious Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year, where he played a key dual role as wicketkeeper and finisher—scoring 140 runs in four innings without being dismissed in three, at a strike rate of 97.90, with five fours and five sixes. In IPL 2025 so far, Rahul has already notched up eight boundaries and four sixes. If this form holds, he’s well on course to surpass his 2024 numbers—45 fours and 19 sixes—in what was a tumultuous season. His tense on-field discussion with LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka made headlines and ultimately led to his release from the franchise. Goenka later remarked that he sought players with a stronger “winning mindset.” Reflecting on his mindset change, Rahul told Pietersen, “I think I lost the fun of hitting boundaries and sixes. I kept trying to take games deep, and that stuck in my head. But now, I’ve realized that in T20s, it’s all about boundaries—the team that hits more ends up winning.” “So I’m back to enjoying cricket again—seeing the ball, being aggressive, putting pressure on the bowler and just enjoying myself,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025 | KL Rahul 2.0: Aggressive, free and thriving at Delhi Capitals

MS Dhoni might still be weaving magic behind the stumps, but with the bat, he&rsquo;s beginning to look like a liability for Chennai Super Kings in the 2025 IPL season. Once hailed as one of the best finishers in cricket, Dhoni has yet to win a single match for CSK this year with his batting contributions. His position in the batting order and inability to accelerate in crucial moments has come under sharp scrutiny.
In a recent match against Delhi Capitals, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mahendra-singh-dhoni">Mahendra Singh Dhoni</a> batted for 26 balls and managed just 30 runs &mdash; a far cry from the explosive finishes fans have come to expect from him. That performance left <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings">CSK</a> short of a big total, reigniting debate over Dhoni&rsquo;s place in the squad.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-jasprit-bumrah-given-all-clear-by-bccis-medical-staff-joins-mumbai-indians-squad-ahead-of-rcb-clash-8931265">IPL 2025: Jasprit Bumrah given all clear by BCCI's medical staff, joins Mumbai Indians squad ahead of RCB clash</a>
Joining the chorus of concern, former India batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/manoj-tiwary">Manoj Tiwary</a> made a blunt assessment, suggesting that Dhoni should&rsquo;ve called time on his IPL career two years ago.
&ldquo;Forgive me if I'm being a little strict here. He should have retired after the 2023 IPL &mdash; that was his moment. Fans have immense respect for him, but now they&rsquo;re being deprived of seeing him at his best. Look at the reactions in Chennai &mdash; fans out on the streets, emotional interviews &mdash; it&rsquo;s not the same anymore,&rdquo; Tiwary was quoted saying on Cricbuzz.
<h2 data-start="1299" data-end="1478">'Tell him it's not working'</h2>
CSK head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/stephen-fleming">Stephen Fleming</a> defended Dhoni, saying the veteran keeper-batter cannot bat for long periods due to a persistent knee issue. However, Tiwary questioned the logic behind that explanation.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s keeping wickets for 20 overs &mdash; diving, crouching, making run-outs. If his knee can handle that, why not batting? When it comes to helping the team win, suddenly we hear he can&rsquo;t bat more than 10 overs? All the decisions are being made around him, but nothing&rsquo;s clicking. It&rsquo;s time to be honest and tell him it&rsquo;s not working,&rdquo; Tiwary added.
With Dhoni's on-field struggles mounting, speculation about his retirement is gaining momentum. Many believe the 2025 season could be his swansong, though no official word has come yet.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Former CSK captain MS Dhoni batted for 26 balls and managed just 30 runs — a far cry from the explosive finishes fans have come to expect from him

MS Dhoni might still be weaving magic behind the stumps, but with the bat, he’s beginning to look like a liability for Chennai Super Kings in the 2025 IPL season. Once hailed as one of the best finishers in cricket, Dhoni has yet to win a single match for CSK this year with his batting contributions. His position in the batting order and inability to accelerate in crucial moments has come under sharp scrutiny. In a recent match against Delhi Capitals, Mahendra Singh Dhoni batted for 26 balls and managed just 30 runs — a far cry from the explosive finishes fans have come to expect from him. That performance left CSK short of a big total, reigniting debate over Dhoni’s place in the squad. Also Read: IPL 2025: Jasprit Bumrah given all clear by BCCI's medical staff, joins Mumbai Indians squad ahead of RCB clash Joining the chorus of concern, former India batter Manoj Tiwary made a blunt assessment, suggesting that Dhoni should’ve called time on his IPL career two years ago. “Forgive me if I'm being a little strict here. He should have retired after the 2023 IPL — that was his moment. Fans have immense respect for him, but now they’re being deprived of seeing him at his best. Look at the reactions in Chennai — fans out on the streets, emotional interviews — it’s not the same anymore,” Tiwary was quoted saying on Cricbuzz. 'Tell him it's not working' CSK head coach Stephen Fleming defended Dhoni, saying the veteran keeper-batter cannot bat for long periods due to a persistent knee issue. However, Tiwary questioned the logic behind that explanation. “He’s keeping wickets for 20 overs — diving, crouching, making run-outs. If his knee can handle that, why not batting? When it comes to helping the team win, suddenly we hear he can’t bat more than 10 overs? All the decisions are being made around him, but nothing’s clicking. It’s time to be honest and tell him it’s not working,” Tiwary added. With Dhoni's on-field struggles mounting, speculation about his retirement is gaining momentum. Many believe the 2025 season could be his swansong, though no official word has come yet. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'He should have retired in...', former India cricketer criticises MS Dhoni after CSK's loss to Delhi

Delhi Capitals (DC) continued their dream run in IPL 2025 with a third consecutive win, defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 24 runs at the Chepauk Stadium on Saturday. Powered by a commanding <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kl-rahul">KL Rahul</a> half-century and a masterful spin display from Vipraj Nigam and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kuldeep-yadav">Kuldeep Yadav</a>, DC now sit comfortably at the top of the table. Meanwhile, CSK's struggles continued, slipping to eighth with just one win in four games.
Opting to bat first, DC suffered an early setback as Jake Fraser-McGurk departed for a duck in the very first over, courtesy of Khaleel Ahmed. However, KL Rahul and Abishek Porel steadied the ship, adding quick runs during the powerplay and taking DC past 50.
Porel looked in fine touch before Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him for 33 off 20 balls right after the powerplay. Axar Patel joined Rahul at 54/2 and announced his arrival with a six off his very first delivery, but his cameo of 21 off 14 ended in the 11th over at the hands of Noor Ahmad.
From there, Rahul took charge, accelerating with the help of Sameer Rizvi. The duo smashed 17 runs off Noor in the 15th over and brought up their 50-run partnership in just 27 balls. Rahul reached his first IPL fifty for DC in 33 balls, mixing elegance with aggression.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-will-ms-dhoni-retire-after-match-vs-dc-fans-speculate-as-csk-legends-parents-present-at-chepauk-8929381">IPL 2025: Will MS Dhoni retire after match vs DC? Fans speculate as CSK legend's parents present at Chepauk</a>
Rizvi was dismissed for 20 off 15 in the 16th over, and Stubbs came in to add a fiery finish. He hammered 15 runs off Mukesh Choudhary in the 19th over, while Rahul continued to anchor the innings. The DC skipper finally fell for a classy 77 off 51 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes) in the penultimate over to Pathirana.
Stubbs stayed unbeaten on 24 off 12 as DC ended at 183/6 in 20 overs.&nbsp;Khaleel Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers with 2/25 in his four overs. Jadeja was miserly, giving away just 19 runs and picking up a wicket. Pathirana (1/31) and Noor (1/36) chipped in with a wicket each, while Ashwin (0/21) kept things tight without any breakthroughs. Mukesh Choudhary endured a rough day, leaking 50 runs in four wicketless overs.
<h2>Vipraj, Kuldeep choke CSK&rsquo;s chase</h2>
CSK&rsquo;s chase started shakily as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rachin-ravindra">Rachin Ravindra</a> was caught and bowled by Mukesh Kumar for just 3. Things worsened when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mitchell-starc">Mitchell Starc</a> removed CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for 5, thanks to a sharp catch by McGurk in the deep. CSK were 20/2 in under three overs.
Devon Conway and Vijay Shankar tried to rebuild, but Vipraj Nigam's clever googly removed Conway for 13. Dube came in and struck a few blows, but Vipraj struck again, dismissing him for 18, with Stubbs holding on at long-on.
Kuldeep Yadav then trapped Jadeja lbw for just 2, leaving CSK tottering at 74/5.&nbsp;Amidst the collapse, MS Dhoni walked out to a thunderous ovation. Alongside Vijay Shankar, he tried to stage a late rescue act. Vijay fought valiantly, scoring a composed 69* off 54 balls (5 fours, 1 six), while Dhoni chipped in with 30* off 26 (1 four, 1 six). But with the required rate soaring, the pair couldn&rsquo;t push CSK over the line.
CSK ended at 158/5, falling short by 24 runs.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Delhi Capitals' juggernaut continued unabated as they rode on KL'S batting & some disciplined bowling to register their third successive win in IPL 2025

Delhi Capitals (DC) continued their dream run in IPL 2025 with a third consecutive win, defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 24 runs at the Chepauk Stadium on Saturday. Powered by a commanding KL Rahul half-century and a masterful spin display from Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav, DC now sit comfortably at the top of the table. Meanwhile, CSK's struggles continued, slipping to eighth with just one win in four games. Opting to bat first, DC suffered an early setback as Jake Fraser-McGurk departed for a duck in the very first over, courtesy of Khaleel Ahmed. However, KL Rahul and Abishek Porel steadied the ship, adding quick runs during the powerplay and taking DC past 50. Porel looked in fine touch before Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him for 33 off 20 balls right after the powerplay. Axar Patel joined Rahul at 54/2 and announced his arrival with a six off his very first delivery, but his cameo of 21 off 14 ended in the 11th over at the hands of Noor Ahmad. From there, Rahul took charge, accelerating with the help of Sameer Rizvi. The duo smashed 17 runs off Noor in the 15th over and brought up their 50-run partnership in just 27 balls. Rahul reached his first IPL fifty for DC in 33 balls, mixing elegance with aggression. Also Read: IPL 2025: Will MS Dhoni retire after match vs DC? Fans speculate as CSK legend's parents present at Chepauk Rizvi was dismissed for 20 off 15 in the 16th over, and Stubbs came in to add a fiery finish. He hammered 15 runs off Mukesh Choudhary in the 19th over, while Rahul continued to anchor the innings. The DC skipper finally fell for a classy 77 off 51 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes) in the penultimate over to Pathirana. Stubbs stayed unbeaten on 24 off 12 as DC ended at 183/6 in 20 overs. Khaleel Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers with 2/25 in his four overs. Jadeja was miserly, giving away just 19 runs and picking up a wicket. Pathirana (1/31) and Noor (1/36) chipped in with a wicket each, while Ashwin (0/21) kept things tight without any breakthroughs. Mukesh Choudhary endured a rough day, leaking 50 runs in four wicketless overs. Vipraj, Kuldeep choke CSK’s chase CSK’s chase started shakily as Rachin Ravindra was caught and bowled by Mukesh Kumar for just 3. Things worsened when Mitchell Starc removed CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for 5, thanks to a sharp catch by McGurk in the deep. CSK were 20/2 in under three overs. Devon Conway and Vijay Shankar tried to rebuild, but Vipraj Nigam's clever googly removed Conway for 13. Dube came in and struck a few blows, but Vipraj struck again, dismissing him for 18, with Stubbs holding on at long-on. Kuldeep Yadav then trapped Jadeja lbw for just 2, leaving CSK tottering at 74/5. Amidst the collapse, MS Dhoni walked out to a thunderous ovation. Alongside Vijay Shankar, he tried to stage a late rescue act. Vijay fought valiantly, scoring a composed 69* off 54 balls (5 fours, 1 six), while Dhoni chipped in with 30* off 26 (1 four, 1 six). But with the required rate soaring, the pair couldn’t push CSK over the line. CSK ended at 158/5, falling short by 24 runs. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals break 15-year jinx at Chepauk, beat CSK by 24 runs

The presence of Pan Singh and Devika Devi, parents of the former CSK captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mahendra-singh-dhoni">MS Dhoni</a>, added a special emotional touch to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings">Chennai Super Kings</a>&rsquo; IPL clash against Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on Saturday. Remarkably, this marked the first time Dhoni&rsquo;s parents had attended an IPL match in Chennai since his association with CSK began back in 2008.
Dhoni&rsquo;s wife, Sakshi, and daughter, Ziva, were also in attendance &mdash; regulars at CSK home games &mdash; but it was the appearance of his parents that brought a deeper sense of occasion to the evening.
In the lead-up to the match, speculation swirled around whether Mahendra Singh Dhoni might captain the side again, with regular skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ruturaj-gaikwad">Ruturaj Gaikwad</a> nursing an elbow injury sustained against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati the previous Sunday. However, Gaikwad walking out for the toss quickly put those rumours to rest.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/pakistan-cricketer-khushdil-shah-confronts-abusive-fans-in-physical-altercation-pcb-issue-statement-watch-8929275">Pakistan cricketer Khushdil Shah confronts abusive fans in physical altercation, PCB issue statement-WATCH</a>
"My elbow is good, eager to go," Gaikwad confirmed at the toss. As a result, Dhoni resumed his familiar role behind the stumps, likely to be seen again during CSK&rsquo;s innings when they come out to chase.
<h2 data-start="841" data-end="1042">Will it be MSD's last dance?</h2>
The 43-year-old Dhoni&rsquo;s future in the IPL remains a hot topic. His decision to bat at No. 9 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru raised eyebrows and drew criticism from fans and pundits alike. However, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming defended the move, explaining that Dhoni&rsquo;s physical condition now plays a big role in determining his involvement.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a time thing &mdash; MS judges it himself. His knees aren&rsquo;t what they used to be. He&rsquo;s still moving well, but there&rsquo;s wear and tear,&rdquo; Fleming said. &ldquo;He can&rsquo;t go full throttle for 10 overs anymore. He assesses on the day what he can give us. If the game&rsquo;s tight, he&rsquo;ll step in earlier. Otherwise, he puts faith in the others.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Dhoni’s wife and daughter were also in attendance — but it was the appearance of his parents that brought a deeper sense of occasion to the evening

The presence of Pan Singh and Devika Devi, parents of the former CSK captain MS Dhoni, added a special emotional touch to the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL clash against Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on Saturday. Remarkably, this marked the first time Dhoni’s parents had attended an IPL match in Chennai since his association with CSK began back in 2008. Dhoni’s wife, Sakshi, and daughter, Ziva, were also in attendance — regulars at CSK home games — but it was the appearance of his parents that brought a deeper sense of occasion to the evening. In the lead-up to the match, speculation swirled around whether Mahendra Singh Dhoni might captain the side again, with regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad nursing an elbow injury sustained against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati the previous Sunday. However, Gaikwad walking out for the toss quickly put those rumours to rest. Also Read: Pakistan cricketer Khushdil Shah confronts abusive fans in physical altercation, PCB issue statement-WATCH "My elbow is good, eager to go," Gaikwad confirmed at the toss. As a result, Dhoni resumed his familiar role behind the stumps, likely to be seen again during CSK’s innings when they come out to chase. Will it be MSD's last dance? The 43-year-old Dhoni’s future in the IPL remains a hot topic. His decision to bat at No. 9 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru raised eyebrows and drew criticism from fans and pundits alike. However, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming defended the move, explaining that Dhoni’s physical condition now plays a big role in determining his involvement. “It’s a time thing — MS judges it himself. His knees aren’t what they used to be. He’s still moving well, but there’s wear and tear,” Fleming said. “He can’t go full throttle for 10 overs anymore. He assesses on the day what he can give us. If the game’s tight, he’ll step in earlier. Otherwise, he puts faith in the others.” (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Will MS Dhoni retire after match vs DC? Fans speculate as CSK legend's parents present at Chepauk

As Chennai Super Kings (CSK) gear up to face <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals">Delhi Capitals</a> (DC) in their upcoming IPL 2025 fixture at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, there's uncertainty surrounding the availability of captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ruturaj-gaikwad">Ruturaj Gaikwad</a> due to an elbow injury.
CSK batting coach Michael Hussey shared an update during the pre-match press conference, confirming that Gaikwad is recovering after being struck on his unprotected elbow during the previous match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. The incident occurred in the second over of CSK&rsquo;s innings while Gaikwad attempted to take on pacer Tushar Deshpande during a 183-run chase.
"Yeah, we're hoping he [Gaikwad] is going to try and have a bat today during training. His elbow is still a bit sore, but it's getting better every day. So, we're very hopeful that he'll be fine for tomorrow," Hussey told reporters, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-lucknow-super-giants-vs-mumbai-indians-match-scorecard-live-today-mi-vs-lsg-2025-complete-live-score-8926498">IPL 2025 | LSG vs MI match scorecard - Lucknow beat Mumbai by 12 runs despite Pandya five-for</a>
When asked about potential captaincy options if Gaikwad is ruled out, Hussey hinted at a possible return to leadership for veteran <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mahendra-singh-dhoni">MS Dhoni</a>. "I don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;ve discussed that [captaincy] too much. I&rsquo;m sure <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/stephen-fleming">Stephen Fleming</a> (head coach) and Rutu have thought about it. We&rsquo;ve got a young guy behind the stumps who might be up for the job. He&rsquo;s got a bit of experience, so maybe he could do it," Hussey said, playfully referring to the legendary former skipper.
<h2>Squads:</h2>
Delhi Capitals: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (captain), Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Ashutosh Sharma, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Donovan Ferreira, Tripurana Vijay, Darshan Nalkande, Dushmantha Chameera, T Natarajan, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Manvanth Kumar L, Madhav Tiwari.
Chennai Super Kings: Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Jamie Overton, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Devon Conway, Shaik Rasheed, Sam Curran, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shreyas Gopal, Anshul Kamboj, Nathan Ellis, Gurjapneet Singh, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Andre Siddarth C, Vansh Bedi, Deepak Hooda.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: CSK batting coach Michael Hussey shared an update confirming that Gaikwad is recovering after being struck on his unprotected elbow

As Chennai Super Kings (CSK) gear up to face Delhi Capitals (DC) in their upcoming IPL 2025 fixture at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, there's uncertainty surrounding the availability of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad due to an elbow injury. CSK batting coach Michael Hussey shared an update during the pre-match press conference, confirming that Gaikwad is recovering after being struck on his unprotected elbow during the previous match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. The incident occurred in the second over of CSK’s innings while Gaikwad attempted to take on pacer Tushar Deshpande during a 183-run chase. "Yeah, we're hoping he [Gaikwad] is going to try and have a bat today during training. His elbow is still a bit sore, but it's getting better every day. So, we're very hopeful that he'll be fine for tomorrow," Hussey told reporters, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. Also Read: IPL 2025 | LSG vs MI match scorecard - Lucknow beat Mumbai by 12 runs despite Pandya five-for When asked about potential captaincy options if Gaikwad is ruled out, Hussey hinted at a possible return to leadership for veteran MS Dhoni. "I don’t think we’ve discussed that [captaincy] too much. I’m sure Stephen Fleming (head coach) and Rutu have thought about it. We’ve got a young guy behind the stumps who might be up for the job. He’s got a bit of experience, so maybe he could do it," Hussey said, playfully referring to the legendary former skipper. Squads: Delhi Capitals: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (captain), Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Ashutosh Sharma, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Donovan Ferreira, Tripurana Vijay, Darshan Nalkande, Dushmantha Chameera, T Natarajan, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Manvanth Kumar L, Madhav Tiwari. Chennai Super Kings: Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Jamie Overton, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Devon Conway, Shaik Rasheed, Sam Curran, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shreyas Gopal, Anshul Kamboj, Nathan Ellis, Gurjapneet Singh, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Andre Siddarth C, Vansh Bedi, Deepak Hooda. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: MS Dhoni likely to captain CSK as Ruturaj Gaikwad remains doubtful for Delhi Capitals clash-Reports

Abhishek Porel put on a solid display against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday (March 30), showcasing his growing confidence and composure at the crease. The young wicketkeeper-batter has been steadily making his mark for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals">Delhi Capitals</a>, proving that he belongs at this level. With his fearless strokeplay and improved game awareness, Porel is shaping into a key player for the franchise.
In an exclusive interview with WION, Porel reflected on his journey, the learnings from the past year, and his aspirations for the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> 2025 season. The Bengal cricketer shared insights into his game, training regimen, and the invaluable support he's received from DC.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-after-hardik-now-rr-captain-riyan-parag-penalised-for-slow-over-rate-against-csk-8909307">IPL 2025: After Hardik, now RR captain Riyan Parag penalised for slow over rate against CSK</a>
Over the past year, Porel has been focusing on both his game and mental resilience. He acknowledges the rapid evolution of cricket and is determined to stay ahead. Reflecting on his preparation, he said, "Over the last 12 months, I have focused more on my game and mental strength. Cricket is evolving rapidly, and I want to ensure that I keep up with its pace. The level has already gone very high. I began with the domestic season, which is crucial for us. During the off-season, I worked at the NCAA and with my state team. Overall, it was a successful domestic season, and now my mission is to perform better than last year&rsquo;s IPL and help my team lift the trophy."
When it comes to improving his game, he takes a very methodical approach. He evaluates his strengths and weaknesses to make targeted improvements, particularly in his hitting ability. "To be honest, I evaluate my game and identify areas of improvement. My hitting ability has improved compared to two years ago&mdash;I have gained strength and worked closely with my trainer. However, I don't specifically train for power-hitting. I focus on understanding my strengths and refining my game accordingly, " he explained.
<h2 data-start="784" data-end="969">'I worked on improving my strike rate against spin'</h2>
Playing for Delhi Capitals (DC) has had a profound impact on his career. He expresses deep gratitude for the franchise, emphasising how their unwavering support has given him confidence and allowed him to grow as a player. "I am extremely grateful to DC for the opportunity they have given me. It has been a life-changing experience. They have backed me wholeheartedly and encouraged me to play freely. As a young player, when a franchise tells you to express yourself without fear, it has a significant mental impact. That trust has helped me grow as a cricketer," he shares.
Looking back at his previous IPL season, he acknowledges a specific area that needed improvement&mdash;his strike rate against spin. After identifying this weakness, he made it a priority to work on it.&nbsp;"Last year, I scored 360 runs, but my strike rate against spinners was low. After the IPL, I worked specifically on improving my strike rate against spin, particularly in the middle overs. Small improvements like these will help me become a better player in the long run."
When asked about his training routine, he highlights the importance of timing the ball well. Rather than brute power, his focus is on making clean contact with the bat,&nbsp;"My primary focus during practice is to time the ball well. I aim for the bat to make clean contact with the ball, hitting the middle of the bat consistently. That is crucial for me."
Beyond cricketing skills, he values the mentorship and guidance he has received from senior players. He shares a special bond with veteran wicketkeeper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/wriddhiman-saha">Wriddhiman Saha</a>, who has been a constant source of support and advice since his Ranji Trophy debut. Talking about his bond with Saha, Porel said, "I have shared a great bond with Wriddhiman Saha for the last three to four years. After my Ranji Trophy debut, I stayed in constant touch with him. Whenever I face any challenges, I call him, and he always shares valuable insights. He is very approachable and has helped me immensely," he signed off.

Cricket, Sports: Abhishek Porel put on a solid display against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday (March 30), showcasing his confidence and composure at the crease

Abhishek Porel put on a solid display against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday (March 30), showcasing his growing confidence and composure at the crease. The young wicketkeeper-batter has been steadily making his mark for Delhi Capitals, proving that he belongs at this level. With his fearless strokeplay and improved game awareness, Porel is shaping into a key player for the franchise. In an exclusive interview with WION, Porel reflected on his journey, the learnings from the past year, and his aspirations for the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 season. The Bengal cricketer shared insights into his game, training regimen, and the invaluable support he's received from DC. Also Read: IPL 2025: After Hardik, now RR captain Riyan Parag penalised for slow over rate against CSK Over the past year, Porel has been focusing on both his game and mental resilience. He acknowledges the rapid evolution of cricket and is determined to stay ahead. Reflecting on his preparation, he said, "Over the last 12 months, I have focused more on my game and mental strength. Cricket is evolving rapidly, and I want to ensure that I keep up with its pace. The level has already gone very high. I began with the domestic season, which is crucial for us. During the off-season, I worked at the NCAA and with my state team. Overall, it was a successful domestic season, and now my mission is to perform better than last year’s IPL and help my team lift the trophy." When it comes to improving his game, he takes a very methodical approach. He evaluates his strengths and weaknesses to make targeted improvements, particularly in his hitting ability. "To be honest, I evaluate my game and identify areas of improvement. My hitting ability has improved compared to two years ago—I have gained strength and worked closely with my trainer. However, I don't specifically train for power-hitting. I focus on understanding my strengths and refining my game accordingly, " he explained. 'I worked on improving my strike rate against spin' Playing for Delhi Capitals (DC) has had a profound impact on his career. He expresses deep gratitude for the franchise, emphasising how their unwavering support has given him confidence and allowed him to grow as a player. "I am extremely grateful to DC for the opportunity they have given me. It has been a life-changing experience. They have backed me wholeheartedly and encouraged me to play freely. As a young player, when a franchise tells you to express yourself without fear, it has a significant mental impact. That trust has helped me grow as a cricketer," he shares. Looking back at his previous IPL season, he acknowledges a specific area that needed improvement—his strike rate against spin. After identifying this weakness, he made it a priority to work on it. "Last year, I scored 360 runs, but my strike rate against spinners was low. After the IPL, I worked specifically on improving my strike rate against spin, particularly in the middle overs. Small improvements like these will help me become a better player in the long run." When asked about his training routine, he highlights the importance of timing the ball well. Rather than brute power, his focus is on making clean contact with the bat, "My primary focus during practice is to time the ball well. I aim for the bat to make clean contact with the ball, hitting the middle of the bat consistently. That is crucial for me." Beyond cricketing skills, he values the mentorship and guidance he has received from senior players. He shares a special bond with veteran wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who has been a constant source of support and advice since his Ranji Trophy debut. Talking about his bond with Saha, Porel said, "I have shared a great bond with Wriddhiman Saha for the last three to four years. After my Ranji Trophy debut, I stayed in constant touch with him. Whenever I face any challenges, I call him, and he always shares valuable insights. He is very approachable and has helped me immensely," he signed off.

Exclusive | IPL 2025: 'I have focused more on my game and mental strength', says Delhi Capitals' Abhishek Porel

Delhi Capitals displayed an all-round performance against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, winning the match by 7 wickets. Watch in for more details!

IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 7 wickets

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mitchell-starc" rel="dofollow">Mitchell Starc</a> was the star of the day for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals" rel="dofollow">Delhi Capitals (DC)</a>, picking his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 cricket against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunrisers-hyderabad-srh" rel="dofollow">SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH)</a> in IPL 2025, as the hosts beat Hyderabad by seven wickets in Vizag on Sunday. While Delhi won its second successive game this season, Hyderabad endured its second straight loss. Delhi&rsquo;s top order contributed heavily in the chase, with the team&rsquo;s vice-captain Faf du Plessis top-scoring with 50 off 27 balls.
Everyone came to the party for Delhi in this crunch clash against the touring Hyderabad side, including KL Rahul, who relinked with the team following his paternity leave.&nbsp;
Hyderabad won the toss and elected to bat first, only to fall flat on their face inside the first six overs. Delhi seamer Starc triggered an early SRH collapse, picking three wickets in his first spell. After Abhishek Sharma&rsquo;s run out in the first over, Starc picked two wickets in his second, removing Ishan Kishan and Nitish Kumar Reddy before getting the big fish in SRH opener Travis Head (22) for the sixth time in his career. With that, SRH&rsquo;s scorecard read 37 for four at one stage.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8vp4dcl-b5p9aafk-m5ahvk8y">
𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 😱 A big breakthrough for Delhi Capitals as Abhishek&rsquo;s error sends him back to the dugout early 🤯 Watch the LIVE action on JioHotstar ➡ <a href="https://t.co/VU1zRx9cWp">https://t.co/VU1zRx9cWp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLonJioStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLonJioStar</a> 👉 SRH vs DC | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 2 &amp; Star Sports&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/KL8QFBb2kA">pic.twitter.com/KL8QFBb2kA</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1906292498701631817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
Aniket Varma and Heinrich Klaasen saved their sinking ship with a quick-fire 77-run stand for the fifth wicket, only for Kuldeep Yadav to break into their lower order and restrict them under a par total.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-delhi-capitals-mitchell-starc-floors-srh-with-five-for-but-its-his-aussie-teammates-catch-that-stunned-all-watch-jake-fraser-mcgurk-8907196" rel="dofollow">Jake Fraser-McGurk&rsquo;s brilliant catch to dismiss Aniket</a> stunned all in Vizag as DC wrapped up SRH on 163 inside 19 overs.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8vp53pw-20dx9ur7-wiv248qo">
Jump. Timing. Perfection. 🔝 An excellent catch from Jake Fraser-McGurk at the ropes brings an end to Aniket Verma's fighting knock! 💙 Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/L4vEDKzthJ">https://t.co/L4vEDKzthJ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DCvSRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DCvSRH</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DelhiCapitals</a> <a href="https://t.co/7b6eekZtRC">pic.twitter.com/7b6eekZtRC</a>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1906308290772078753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>DC batters come good against SRH</h2>
After failing in the side&rsquo;s tournament opener against LSG, Delhi batters came good against Hyderabad, with the top four contributing to the team&rsquo;s success. Fraser and du Plessis stitched an 81-run partnership for the first wicket, with the veteran opener completing his maiden fifty for his new team.&nbsp;
Making his IPL debut, SRH&rsquo;s rookie spinner Zeeshan Ansari broke the stand, dismissing both openers and Rahul later to complete his quota with three wickets for 42 runs.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8vp5fgq-osdgrz6o-3yqvh4n4">
A Dream Debut ✨ Zeeshan Ansari couldn't have asked for better wickets in his maiden <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> appearance 🧡 Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/L4vEDKyVsb">https://t.co/L4vEDKyVsb</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DCvSRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DCvSRH</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/SunRisers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SunRisers</a> <a href="https://t.co/WHKiLX30Uw">pic.twitter.com/WHKiLX30Uw</a>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1906335732307824986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs then completed the formalities as Delhi wrapped up the chase with four overs and seven wickets remaining.&nbsp;
As things stand, Delhi is second on the points table with two wins in as many matches, and Hyderabad is placed seventh with just one win in three contested matches thus far.&nbsp;

Cricket, Sports: Delhi Capitals' top order contributed heavily in the chase in Vizag, with the team’s vice-captain Faf du Plessis top-scoring with 50 off 27 balls.

Mitchell Starc was the star of the day for Delhi Capitals (DC), picking his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 cricket against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025, as the hosts beat Hyderabad by seven wickets in Vizag on Sunday. While Delhi won its second successive game this season, Hyderabad endured its second straight loss. Delhi’s top order contributed heavily in the chase, with the team’s vice-captain Faf du Plessis top-scoring with 50 off 27 balls. Everyone came to the party for Delhi in this crunch clash against the touring Hyderabad side, including KL Rahul, who relinked with the team following his paternity leave. Hyderabad won the toss and elected to bat first, only to fall flat on their face inside the first six overs. Delhi seamer Starc triggered an early SRH collapse, picking three wickets in his first spell. After Abhishek Sharma’s run out in the first over, Starc picked two wickets in his second, removing Ishan Kishan and Nitish Kumar Reddy before getting the big fish in SRH opener Travis Head (22) for the sixth time in his career. With that, SRH’s scorecard read 37 for four at one stage. 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 😱 A big breakthrough for Delhi Capitals as Abhishek’s error sends him back to the dugout early 🤯 Watch the LIVE action on JioHotstar ➡ https://t.co/VU1zRx9cWp #IPLonJioStar 👉 SRH vs DC | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 2 & Star Sports… pic.twitter.com/KL8QFBb2kA — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 30, 2025 Aniket Varma and Heinrich Klaasen saved their sinking ship with a quick-fire 77-run stand for the fifth wicket, only for Kuldeep Yadav to break into their lower order and restrict them under a par total. Jake Fraser-McGurk’s brilliant catch to dismiss Aniket stunned all in Vizag as DC wrapped up SRH on 163 inside 19 overs. Jump. Timing. Perfection. 🔝 An excellent catch from Jake Fraser-McGurk at the ropes brings an end to Aniket Verma's fighting knock! 💙 Updates ▶️ https://t.co/L4vEDKzthJ#TATAIPL | #DCvSRH | @DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/7b6eekZtRC — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 30, 2025 DC batters come good against SRH After failing in the side’s tournament opener against LSG, Delhi batters came good against Hyderabad, with the top four contributing to the team’s success. Fraser and du Plessis stitched an 81-run partnership for the first wicket, with the veteran opener completing his maiden fifty for his new team. Making his IPL debut, SRH’s rookie spinner Zeeshan Ansari broke the stand, dismissing both openers and Rahul later to complete his quota with three wickets for 42 runs. A Dream Debut ✨ Zeeshan Ansari couldn't have asked for better wickets in his maiden #TATAIPL appearance 🧡 Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/L4vEDKyVsb#DCvSRH | @SunRisers pic.twitter.com/WHKiLX30Uw — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 30, 2025 Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs then completed the formalities as Delhi wrapped up the chase with four overs and seven wickets remaining. As things stand, Delhi is second on the points table with two wins in as many matches, and Hyderabad is placed seventh with just one win in three contested matches thus far.

IPL 2025: Starc picks five-for as Delhi Capitals hit jackpot against SunRisers Hyderabad in Vizag

India's premier wrist-spinner, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kuldeep-yadav">Kuldeep Yadav</a>, has credited West Indies veteran <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunil-narine">Sunil Narine</a> for teaching him the importance of length in bowling&mdash;an insight that has helped him sharpen his craft over the years.
Kuldeep, who played alongside Narine at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> for several seasons before moving to Delhi Capitals, recalls how the mystery spinner emphasised bowling the right length.
"As a bowler, you must aim to dominate. Players like Jasprit Bumrah and Sunil Narine have mastered that art. I learned a lot from Narine when I was with KKR. He was ahead of his time, always stressing the importance of length," Kuldeep told the digital broadcasters.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-mumbai-indians-skipper-hardik-pandya-fined-14k-for-slow-over-rate-8906105">IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya fined $14K for slow over rate</a>
"Back then, I believed I could rely solely on my skills, but now I realise he was absolutely right. Since my injury comeback, I've focused a lot on my length, and that has made a significant difference."
Kuldeep, who played a crucial role in Delhi Capitals&rsquo; thrilling one-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants, where he took 2/20 in Visakhapatnam, acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining an economical spell in the IPL due to the presence of aggressive power hitters.
<h2>'IPL is brutal for bowlers'</h2>
"The IPL is brutal for bowlers. You might pick up wickets, but it's tough to keep an economy rate of just 6 or 7 runs per over. The format is highly competitive with world-class batters," he said.
Now an integral part of Delhi Capitals, Kuldeep has forged a strong bowling partnership with Axar Patel, with whom he shares a long-standing camaraderie.
"Axar and I have played together since our U-17 days. Our understanding is very smooth. I remember during the U-19 World Cup in 2012, we were both in standby. We've been together since then, which speaks volumes about our bond."
"Our bowling partnership is simple&mdash;I attack, and Axar provides control, creating pressure on the batsmen. That pressure often results in wickets, whether for him, for me, or someone else in the team. His control in the middle overs is crucial," he added.
With Kuldeep and Axar leading Delhi&rsquo;s spin attack, the Capitals will be hoping to finally secure their maiden IPL title this season.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Delhi Capitals' Kuldeep Yadav acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining an economical spell in the IPL due to the presence of aggressive power hitters

India's premier wrist-spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, has credited West Indies veteran Sunil Narine for teaching him the importance of length in bowling—an insight that has helped him sharpen his craft over the years. Kuldeep, who played alongside Narine at Kolkata Knight Riders for several seasons before moving to Delhi Capitals, recalls how the mystery spinner emphasised bowling the right length. "As a bowler, you must aim to dominate. Players like Jasprit Bumrah and Sunil Narine have mastered that art. I learned a lot from Narine when I was with KKR. He was ahead of his time, always stressing the importance of length," Kuldeep told the digital broadcasters. Also Read: IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya fined $14K for slow over rate "Back then, I believed I could rely solely on my skills, but now I realise he was absolutely right. Since my injury comeback, I've focused a lot on my length, and that has made a significant difference." Kuldeep, who played a crucial role in Delhi Capitals’ thrilling one-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants, where he took 2/20 in Visakhapatnam, acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining an economical spell in the IPL due to the presence of aggressive power hitters. 'IPL is brutal for bowlers' "The IPL is brutal for bowlers. You might pick up wickets, but it's tough to keep an economy rate of just 6 or 7 runs per over. The format is highly competitive with world-class batters," he said. Now an integral part of Delhi Capitals, Kuldeep has forged a strong bowling partnership with Axar Patel, with whom he shares a long-standing camaraderie. "Axar and I have played together since our U-17 days. Our understanding is very smooth. I remember during the U-19 World Cup in 2012, we were both in standby. We've been together since then, which speaks volumes about our bond." "Our bowling partnership is simple—I attack, and Axar provides control, creating pressure on the batsmen. That pressure often results in wickets, whether for him, for me, or someone else in the team. His control in the middle overs is crucial," he added. With Kuldeep and Axar leading Delhi’s spin attack, the Capitals will be hoping to finally secure their maiden IPL title this season. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Kuldeep Yadav credits THIS BOWLER for transforming his bowling approach

Ahead of their IPL 2025 clash against Delhi Capitals (DC), <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunrisers-hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> (SRH) spin bowling coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/muttiah-muralitharan" rel="dofollow">Muttiah Muralitharan</a> believes the elusive 300-run mark in the league can be achieved if two batters deliver standout performances.
After a high-scoring opener against Rajasthan Royals, SRH faced a setback at home against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Now, they take on an Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals side fresh off a thrilling one-wicket victory over LSG, where <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ashutosh-sharma">Ashutosh Sharma</a>&rsquo;s heroic knock lifted them from 65/5 to successfully chase 210.
Addressing the media ahead of the match, Muralitharan said, &ldquo;The press has made 300 a target, but we nearly got there with 287 against LSG. If two batters fire, we can reach that milestone.&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-terrifying-moment-suryakumar-yadav-struck-on-helmet-falls-flat-wife-devishas-concern-goes-viral-watch-8905655">IPL 2025 | Terrifying moment: Suryakumar Yadav struck on helmet, falls flat; wife Devisha&rsquo;s concern goes viral-WATCH</a>
Reflecting on SRH&rsquo;s loss to Lucknow Super Giants, where Nicholas Pooran&rsquo;s blistering 70 off 25 balls turned the game, Muralitharan praised the knock but remained optimistic about SRH&rsquo;s comeback.
"Winning and losing is part of the game. We were a bit unlucky, and Pooran played one of his best innings. But the team is confident, and we will bounce back," he signed off.
<h2>Squads:</h2>
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (captain), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Zampa, Sachin Baby, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Wiaan Mulder, Kamindu Mendis, Rahul Chahar, Atharva Taide, Eshan Malinga.
Delhi Capitals: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel (wicketkeeper), Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Karun Nair, Donovan Ferreira, Tripurana Vijay, Darshan Nalkande, Dushmantha Chameera, KL Rahul, T Natarajan, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Manvanth Kumar L, Madhav Tiwari.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: In their first game, SRH put up a staggering total of 286/6—just one shy of the highest-ever IPL score—thanks to a maiden IPL century from Ishan Kishan

Ahead of their IPL 2025 clash against Delhi Capitals (DC), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) spin bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan believes the elusive 300-run mark in the league can be achieved if two batters deliver standout performances. After a high-scoring opener against Rajasthan Royals, SRH faced a setback at home against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Now, they take on an Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals side fresh off a thrilling one-wicket victory over LSG, where Ashutosh Sharma’s heroic knock lifted them from 65/5 to successfully chase 210. Addressing the media ahead of the match, Muralitharan said, “The press has made 300 a target, but we nearly got there with 287 against LSG. If two batters fire, we can reach that milestone.” Also Read: IPL 2025 | Terrifying moment: Suryakumar Yadav struck on helmet, falls flat; wife Devisha’s concern goes viral-WATCH Reflecting on SRH’s loss to Lucknow Super Giants, where Nicholas Pooran’s blistering 70 off 25 balls turned the game, Muralitharan praised the knock but remained optimistic about SRH’s comeback. "Winning and losing is part of the game. We were a bit unlucky, and Pooran played one of his best innings. But the team is confident, and we will bounce back," he signed off. Squads: Sunrisers Hyderabad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (captain), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Zampa, Sachin Baby, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Wiaan Mulder, Kamindu Mendis, Rahul Chahar, Atharva Taide, Eshan Malinga. Delhi Capitals: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel (wicketkeeper), Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Karun Nair, Donovan Ferreira, Tripurana Vijay, Darshan Nalkande, Dushmantha Chameera, KL Rahul, T Natarajan, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Manvanth Kumar L, Madhav Tiwari. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025 | SRH's spin bowling coach Muralitharan on breaching Mount 300: ‘Two batters need to fire’

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kl-rahul" rel="dofollow">KL Rahul</a> has returned from paternity leave and will soon debut for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals" rel="dofollow">Delhi Capitals (DC)</a> in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a>. The India gloveman missed the side&rsquo;s tournament opener against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the birth of his first child but is likely to get included in the playing XI for their crucial tie against the travelling SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Vizag on Sunday afternoon. However, what worries DC is the fitness of Indian quick Mukesh Kumar, who sustained an ankle sprain in the previous game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8u90538-g4abpvz8-ves5ajnm">
You're loved. You're ours. You're home. 🥹 Welcome to Dilli, KLR 💙❤️ <a href="https://t.co/qUBPHAYUyU">pic.twitter.com/qUBPHAYUyU</a>
&mdash; Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1905851253831422402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
Mukesh could likely sit out of the next game, with Delhi giving seamer Darshan Nalkande a chance against the daunting SRH batting unit, consisting of T20 monsters Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen. With Delhi also missing another Indian quick, T Natarajan, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, they could be forced to make some changes for their second match.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-that-is-what-mumbai-indians-is-known-for-rohit-sharma-gets-candid-about-mi-mindset-watch-8904280" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: &lsquo;That is what Mumbai Indians is known for,&rsquo; Rohit Sharma gets candid about MI&rsquo;s mindset &ndash; Watch</a>
Meanwhile, to ensure DC keeps their winning run going, they must strike a balance in their picked XI, with another option including replacing opener Jake Fraser-McGurk with a foreign seamer in Dushmantha Chameera. That would, however, make the DC bowling attack look dangerous, with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Axar Patel, Mohit Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav already retaining their places.
<h2>KL Rahul&rsquo;s batting position</h2>
In an ideal situation, KL will bat at number four, replacing Sameer Rizvi, with McGurk, team vice-captain Faf du Plessis and gloveman Abishek Porel occupying the top three positions. With Axar and Tristan Stubbs to follow and Delhi likely to reuse Ashutosh Sharma as the Impact Sub playing at number seven, they have more than a decent batting attack to go after the SRH&rsquo;s bowling.
However, should DC drop McGurk for Chameera in another scenario, KL could open alongside du Plessis, and Sameer could retain his place at number four.&nbsp;
<h3>Predicted Playing XIs of both teams &ndash;</h3>
Delhi Capitals: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel (wk), KL Rahul, Axar Patel (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohit Sharma, (Impact - Mukesh Kumar/Darshan Nalkande)
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (captain), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami and Simarjeet Singh (Impact sub - Adam Zampa)
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: DC seamer Mukesh Kumar could likely sit out of the next game, with Delhi giving seamer Darshan Nalkande a chance against the daunting SRH batting unit.

KL Rahul has returned from paternity leave and will soon debut for Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2025. The India gloveman missed the side’s tournament opener against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the birth of his first child but is likely to get included in the playing XI for their crucial tie against the travelling SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Vizag on Sunday afternoon. However, what worries DC is the fitness of Indian quick Mukesh Kumar, who sustained an ankle sprain in the previous game. You're loved. You're ours. You're home. 🥹 Welcome to Dilli, KLR 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/qUBPHAYUyU — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 29, 2025 Mukesh could likely sit out of the next game, with Delhi giving seamer Darshan Nalkande a chance against the daunting SRH batting unit, consisting of T20 monsters Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen. With Delhi also missing another Indian quick, T Natarajan, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, they could be forced to make some changes for their second match. Also read | IPL 2025: ‘That is what Mumbai Indians is known for,’ Rohit Sharma gets candid about MI’s mindset – Watch Meanwhile, to ensure DC keeps their winning run going, they must strike a balance in their picked XI, with another option including replacing opener Jake Fraser-McGurk with a foreign seamer in Dushmantha Chameera. That would, however, make the DC bowling attack look dangerous, with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Axar Patel, Mohit Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav already retaining their places. KL Rahul’s batting position In an ideal situation, KL will bat at number four, replacing Sameer Rizvi, with McGurk, team vice-captain Faf du Plessis and gloveman Abishek Porel occupying the top three positions. With Axar and Tristan Stubbs to follow and Delhi likely to reuse Ashutosh Sharma as the Impact Sub playing at number seven, they have more than a decent batting attack to go after the SRH’s bowling. However, should DC drop McGurk for Chameera in another scenario, KL could open alongside du Plessis, and Sameer could retain his place at number four. Predicted Playing XIs of both teams – Delhi Capitals: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel (wk), KL Rahul, Axar Patel (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohit Sharma, (Impact - Mukesh Kumar/Darshan Nalkande) Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (captain), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami and Simarjeet Singh (Impact sub - Adam Zampa) (With inputs from agencies)

KL Rahul returns from paternity leave but DC sweat over Mukesh Kumar’s fitness for SRH tie

Ashutosh Sharma did exactly what Delhi Capitals had bought him for in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) auction last year - finishing the games and taking the team over the line. The hard-hitting batter brought his new franchise back from the brink and took them to a win by one wicket against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday (Mar 24) in IPL 2025.
The 210-run chase wasn't easy anyway and the falling wickets didn't help DC's cause either. Even <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ashutosh-sharma">Ashutosh Sharma</a> wasn't finding the middle of his bat and was 19 off 19 balls at one point. However, he soon found his rhythm and then, there was no stopping him.
"The mindset is to just follow the basics and believe in my ability. I was just following the process and wanted to take the game as deep as possible. My plan was to accelerate in the slog overs and ensure I batted till the 20th over. I had full confidence in my ability. I really enjoyed being out there, and my hard work paid off, Delhi Capitals' player Ashutosh Sharma replied to WION's question during the JioStar - Delhi Capitals Press Room on Friday.
DC needed 39 runs from last three overs which was made possible by debutant Vipraj Nigam's 15-ball 39. Then Ashu took over - he smashed LSG's best bowler Ravi Bishnoi for two sixes and a four in the 18th over.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/gt-vs-mi-free-live-streaming-online-smart-tv-mobile-app-match-details-probable-playing-xis-of-gujarat-titans-vs-mumbai-indians-ipl-match-8899309">GT vs MI Live Streaming: How to Watch on Smart TV, Mobile App, and Match Details with Probable Playing XIs</a>
Ashutosh credited his rigorous training regimen, revealing that his off-season preparation included 2-3 hours of range hitting daily, with a special focus on mastering white yorkers. "Handling white yorkers isn't about strength; it's about hard work and technique," he shared.
<h2>'My celebration was for KP'</h2>
One of the defining moments of his innings was his audacious reverse sweep, a shot he later admitted to watching on replay multiple times. It wasn&rsquo;t just an instinctive stroke&mdash;it was a tribute to none other than Kevin Pietersen, who has been a constant source of motivation for Ashutosh.
He also acknowledged the invaluable role of former India cricketer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shikhar-dhawan">Shikhar Dhawan</a>, whose unwavering belief in him helped shape his mental resilience. "His encouragement gave me the confidence to push through tough times," he said.
A crucial aspect of the match was his partnership with debutant Vipraj Nigam. Ashutosh revealed how he kept motivating his younger partner to remain fearless. "I told him to back himself and play with confidence," he shared, highlighting his leadership mindset.
Unlike many batters who rely on pre-planned strategies, Ashutosh believes in reading the match situation and adjusting accordingly. His ability to stay composed under pressure stems from extensive visualisation techniques, where he mentally simulates game scenarios during practice. Facing top spinners like Ravi Bishnoi is never easy, but Ashutosh embraces the challenge, having spent hours refining his shot-making to remain a threat against both pace and spin.
Ashutosh also revealed on how <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ms-dhoni">MS Dhoni</a> gave him some tips on how to be a top finisher last season. "Yes, I definitely spoke to him about after the match. I wanted to pick his brains on how he keeps himself calm and composed in tense situations. We had a good insightful dicussion. I got to learn a lot from him. He is a legend of the game and any lesson that you can take from him is gold," he signed off.

Cricket, Sports: The Railways batter picked up right where he left off during his 2024 season with PBKS. He remained not out on 66 hitting five fours and as many sixes

Ashutosh Sharma did exactly what Delhi Capitals had bought him for in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction last year - finishing the games and taking the team over the line. The hard-hitting batter brought his new franchise back from the brink and took them to a win by one wicket against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday (Mar 24) in IPL 2025. The 210-run chase wasn't easy anyway and the falling wickets didn't help DC's cause either. Even Ashutosh Sharma wasn't finding the middle of his bat and was 19 off 19 balls at one point. However, he soon found his rhythm and then, there was no stopping him. "The mindset is to just follow the basics and believe in my ability. I was just following the process and wanted to take the game as deep as possible. My plan was to accelerate in the slog overs and ensure I batted till the 20th over. I had full confidence in my ability. I really enjoyed being out there, and my hard work paid off, Delhi Capitals' player Ashutosh Sharma replied to WION's question during the JioStar - Delhi Capitals Press Room on Friday. DC needed 39 runs from last three overs which was made possible by debutant Vipraj Nigam's 15-ball 39. Then Ashu took over - he smashed LSG's best bowler Ravi Bishnoi for two sixes and a four in the 18th over. Also Read: GT vs MI Live Streaming: How to Watch on Smart TV, Mobile App, and Match Details with Probable Playing XIs Ashutosh credited his rigorous training regimen, revealing that his off-season preparation included 2-3 hours of range hitting daily, with a special focus on mastering white yorkers. "Handling white yorkers isn't about strength; it's about hard work and technique," he shared. 'My celebration was for KP' One of the defining moments of his innings was his audacious reverse sweep, a shot he later admitted to watching on replay multiple times. It wasn’t just an instinctive stroke—it was a tribute to none other than Kevin Pietersen, who has been a constant source of motivation for Ashutosh. He also acknowledged the invaluable role of former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, whose unwavering belief in him helped shape his mental resilience. "His encouragement gave me the confidence to push through tough times," he said. A crucial aspect of the match was his partnership with debutant Vipraj Nigam. Ashutosh revealed how he kept motivating his younger partner to remain fearless. "I told him to back himself and play with confidence," he shared, highlighting his leadership mindset. Unlike many batters who rely on pre-planned strategies, Ashutosh believes in reading the match situation and adjusting accordingly. His ability to stay composed under pressure stems from extensive visualisation techniques, where he mentally simulates game scenarios during practice. Facing top spinners like Ravi Bishnoi is never easy, but Ashutosh embraces the challenge, having spent hours refining his shot-making to remain a threat against both pace and spin. Ashutosh also revealed on how MS Dhoni gave him some tips on how to be a top finisher last season. "Yes, I definitely spoke to him about after the match. I wanted to pick his brains on how he keeps himself calm and composed in tense situations. We had a good insightful dicussion. I got to learn a lot from him. He is a legend of the game and any lesson that you can take from him is gold," he signed off.

Exclusive | IPL 2025: DC's Ashutosh Sharma reveals THIS CSK player gave him advice on becoming a top finisher

Ashutosh Sharma did exactly what Delhi Capitals had bought him for in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction last year - finishing the games and taking the team over the line. The hard-hitting batter brought his new franchise back from the brink and took them to a win by one wicket against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday (Mar 24) in IPL 2025.
The 210-run chase wasn't easy anyway and the falling wickets didn't help DC's cause either. Even Ashutosh wasn't finding the middle of his bat and was 19 off 19 balls at one point.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-he-has-been-pretty-australia-pacer-starc-on-captain-axar-after-dcs-win-over-lsg-8887981">IPL 2025 - 'He has been pretty...': Australia pacer Starc on captain Axar after DC's win over LSG</a>
The batter, however, asserts that he was not panicking and that he just wanted to take the game deep which he did and in some style.
"[The mindset is to] just follow the basics and believe in my ability. I was just following the process and wanted to take the game as deep as possible. My plan was to accelerate in the slog overs and ensure I batted till the 20th over. I had full confidence in my ability. I really enjoyed being out there, and my hard work paid off.:
DC needed 39 runs from last three overs which was made possible by debutant Vipraj Nigam's 15-ball 39. Then Ashu took over - he smashed LSG's best bowler Ravi Bishnoi for two sixes and a four in the 18th over.
DC lost one more wicket in the 19th over and was left with just one wicket when Ashutosh hit 12 runs including a four and a six on the last two balls of the penultimate over.
The drama went on in the last over as LSG skipper and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant missed a stumping chance which could have ended the game but Ashu came on strike and won the game with a six - showing nerves of steel.
He remained not out on 66 off 31 balls hitting five fours and as many sixes - if he continues to bat like this, DC sure have one less thing to worry about going forward in the season.

Ashutosh Sharma remained not out on 66 off 31 balls hitting five fours and as many sixes - if he continues to bat like this, DC sure have one less thing to worry about. Cricket Sports

Ashutosh Sharma did exactly what Delhi Capitals had bought him for in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction last year - finishing the games and taking the team over the line. The hard-hitting batter brought his new franchise back from the brink and took them to a win by one wicket against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday (Mar 24) in IPL 2025. The 210-run chase wasn't easy anyway and the falling wickets didn't help DC's cause either. Even Ashutosh wasn't finding the middle of his bat and was 19 off 19 balls at one point. Also Read: IPL 2025 - 'He has been pretty...': Australia pacer Starc on captain Axar after DC's win over LSG The batter, however, asserts that he was not panicking and that he just wanted to take the game deep which he did and in some style. "[The mindset is to] just follow the basics and believe in my ability. I was just following the process and wanted to take the game as deep as possible. My plan was to accelerate in the slog overs and ensure I batted till the 20th over. I had full confidence in my ability. I really enjoyed being out there, and my hard work paid off.: DC needed 39 runs from last three overs which was made possible by debutant Vipraj Nigam's 15-ball 39. Then Ashu took over - he smashed LSG's best bowler Ravi Bishnoi for two sixes and a four in the 18th over. DC lost one more wicket in the 19th over and was left with just one wicket when Ashutosh hit 12 runs including a four and a six on the last two balls of the penultimate over. The drama went on in the last over as LSG skipper and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant missed a stumping chance which could have ended the game but Ashu came on strike and won the game with a six - showing nerves of steel. He remained not out on 66 off 31 balls hitting five fours and as many sixes - if he continues to bat like this, DC sure have one less thing to worry about going forward in the season.

IPL 2025: 'Really enjoyed being out...,' DC star Ashutosh Sharma on his match-winning 66 not out against LSG

Following their thrilling win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing Indian Premier League, Delhi Capitals (DC) pacer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mitchell-starc">Mitchell Starc</a> praised skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/axar-patel">Axar Patel</a> for his composure and remarkable evolution into a 'dominant all-rounder' on the international stage.
Axar's captaincy debut for DC began on a high note as his team overcame a shaky start while chasing 210 runs. Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam played heroic knocks, guiding DC to a dramatic one-wicket victory that will be remembered for a long time.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rr-vs-kkr-free-live-streaming-online-smart-tv-mobile-app-match-details-probable-playing-xis-of-rajasthan-royals-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-ipl-match-8887800">RR vs KKR Live Streaming Online, Smart TV, Mobile App Check Match Details, and Probable Playing XIs</a>
Speaking after the match, Starc lauded Axar&rsquo;s leadership, saying, "He has been incredibly calm. This is my first time sharing a dressing room with him, and having previously faced him on the field, it&rsquo;s impressive to see how he has developed into such a dominant all-rounder. His intent with the bat tonight was crucial in setting the tone for our chase. He has been fantastic."
<h2 data-start="488" data-end="905">'Wealth of knowledge in our group'</h2>
Starc also highlighted the abundance of leadership experience within the squad, pointing to veterans like Faf du Plessis and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/tristan-stubbs">Tristan Stubbs</a>.
"Faf has captained extensively in both international and franchise cricket, and we have a great blend of seasoned leaders. Tristan Stubbs, who has been with the team for a while, also brings valuable experience. There is a wealth of knowledge in our group. Axar&rsquo;s calm and composed approach is evident, and hopefully, that mentality spreads across the team. Wins like tonight, where we fight until the end, will only make us stronger moving forward," he added.
Coming to the match, DC won the toss and opted to bowl first. While DC got Aiden Markram for cheap (15 in 13 balls), Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran made sure DC regretted their decision to put LSG to bat, smashing their bowlers with towering sixes and elegant boundaries. Both had an 87-run stand for the second wicket, with Marsh gone for 72 in 36 balls, with six fours and six sixes.
During the run-chase, DC lost half their side for 65 runs.&nbsp;Ashutosh then had a 48-run stand with Tristan Stubbs (34 in 22 balls) and Vipraj (39 in 15 balls). After that, the batter pulled off the chase almost single-handedly with a wicket and three balls left.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Axar's captaincy debut for Delhi Capitals began on a high note as his team overcame a shaky start while chasing 210 runs against Lucknow Super Giants

Following their thrilling win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing Indian Premier League, Delhi Capitals (DC) pacer Mitchell Starc praised skipper Axar Patel for his composure and remarkable evolution into a 'dominant all-rounder' on the international stage. Axar's captaincy debut for DC began on a high note as his team overcame a shaky start while chasing 210 runs. Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam played heroic knocks, guiding DC to a dramatic one-wicket victory that will be remembered for a long time. Also Read: RR vs KKR Live Streaming Online, Smart TV, Mobile App Check Match Details, and Probable Playing XIs Speaking after the match, Starc lauded Axar’s leadership, saying, "He has been incredibly calm. This is my first time sharing a dressing room with him, and having previously faced him on the field, it’s impressive to see how he has developed into such a dominant all-rounder. His intent with the bat tonight was crucial in setting the tone for our chase. He has been fantastic." 'Wealth of knowledge in our group' Starc also highlighted the abundance of leadership experience within the squad, pointing to veterans like Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs. "Faf has captained extensively in both international and franchise cricket, and we have a great blend of seasoned leaders. Tristan Stubbs, who has been with the team for a while, also brings valuable experience. There is a wealth of knowledge in our group. Axar’s calm and composed approach is evident, and hopefully, that mentality spreads across the team. Wins like tonight, where we fight until the end, will only make us stronger moving forward," he added. Coming to the match, DC won the toss and opted to bowl first. While DC got Aiden Markram for cheap (15 in 13 balls), Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran made sure DC regretted their decision to put LSG to bat, smashing their bowlers with towering sixes and elegant boundaries. Both had an 87-run stand for the second wicket, with Marsh gone for 72 in 36 balls, with six fours and six sixes. During the run-chase, DC lost half their side for 65 runs. Ashutosh then had a 48-run stand with Tristan Stubbs (34 in 22 balls) and Vipraj (39 in 15 balls). After that, the batter pulled off the chase almost single-handedly with a wicket and three balls left. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'He has been pretty...': Australia pacer Starc on captain Axar after DC's win over LSG

In a thrilling Indian Premier League 2025 encounter, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals">Delhi Capitals</a> (DC) pulled off a dramatic one-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. At the heart of this stunning chase was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ashutosh-sharma">Ashutosh Sharma</a>, whose composed and fearless knock sealed the win for DC in high-pressure circumstances.
Following his match-winning performance, Ashutosh dedicated his 'Player of the Match' award to his former Punjab Kings (PBKS) teammate and ex-Indian opener, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shikhar-dhawan">Shikhar Dhawan</a>, acknowledging the vital role Dhawan played in his development as a finisher.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-his-innings-will-be-remembered-for-a-long-time-says-gavaskar-on-ashutoshs-clutch-knock-8887614">IPL 2025: 'His innings will be remembered for a long time&rsquo;, says Gavaskar on Ashutosh's clutch knock</a>
<h2>'This award is for Shikhar'</h2>
Reflecting on his performance after receiving the award, Ashutosh said, "Took the lessons from last year. Missed out on finishing the game on a couple of occasions in the previous season. The whole year I focused and visualised about it. Had the belief that if I play till the last over, anything can happen. Well played to Vipraj. I asked him to keep hitting. He was very calm under pressure. Want to dedicate this award to my mentor Shikhar Paaji (Shikhar Dhawan)."
Ashutosh's remarks reflected his commitment to learning from past experiences and refining his finishing skills. His ability to remain composed under pressure was pivotal in guiding DC to victory, with crucial support from Vipraj Nigam.
This victory carried extra emotional weight as it highlighted the lasting impact of Dhawan&rsquo;s mentorship. Having retired from all formats of cricket earlier this year, Dhawan had played a key role in Ashutosh&rsquo;s growth during their time together at PBKS. Known for his leadership and composure, Dhawan influenced numerous young cricketers, with Ashutosh being one of the brightest examples of his legacy.
Ashutosh&rsquo;s match-winning knock not only underlined his growing stature as a finisher but also served as a powerful testament to the impact of great mentorship.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Ashutosh dedicated his 'Player of the Match' award to Shikhar Dhawan, acknowledging the role Dhawan played in his development as a finisher

In a thrilling Indian Premier League 2025 encounter, Delhi Capitals (DC) pulled off a dramatic one-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. At the heart of this stunning chase was Ashutosh Sharma, whose composed and fearless knock sealed the win for DC in high-pressure circumstances. Following his match-winning performance, Ashutosh dedicated his 'Player of the Match' award to his former Punjab Kings (PBKS) teammate and ex-Indian opener, Shikhar Dhawan, acknowledging the vital role Dhawan played in his development as a finisher. Also Read: IPL 2025: 'His innings will be remembered for a long time’, says Gavaskar on Ashutosh's clutch knock 'This award is for Shikhar' Reflecting on his performance after receiving the award, Ashutosh said, "Took the lessons from last year. Missed out on finishing the game on a couple of occasions in the previous season. The whole year I focused and visualised about it. Had the belief that if I play till the last over, anything can happen. Well played to Vipraj. I asked him to keep hitting. He was very calm under pressure. Want to dedicate this award to my mentor Shikhar Paaji (Shikhar Dhawan)." Ashutosh's remarks reflected his commitment to learning from past experiences and refining his finishing skills. His ability to remain composed under pressure was pivotal in guiding DC to victory, with crucial support from Vipraj Nigam. This victory carried extra emotional weight as it highlighted the lasting impact of Dhawan’s mentorship. Having retired from all formats of cricket earlier this year, Dhawan had played a key role in Ashutosh’s growth during their time together at PBKS. Known for his leadership and composure, Dhawan influenced numerous young cricketers, with Ashutosh being one of the brightest examples of his legacy. Ashutosh’s match-winning knock not only underlined his growing stature as a finisher but also served as a powerful testament to the impact of great mentorship. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: How Shikhar Dhawan’s lessons helped Ashutosh Sharma deliver a match-winning knock

Following Delhi Capitals' (DC) thrilling one-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Indian cricket legend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunil-gavaskar">Sunil Gavaskar</a> lavished praise on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ashutosh-sharma">Ashutosh Sharma</a>&rsquo;s heroic knock. Gavaskar highlighted the youngster&rsquo;s confidence and composure under pressure, calling it an innings that will be 'remembered for a long time'.
Ashutosh, carrying forward his fine form from the previous Indian Premier League season with Punjab Kings (PBKS), delivered a match-winning performance, guiding DC from the brink of defeat to a remarkable victory in their 210-run chase at Vizag on Tuesday (March 24).
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-one-wicket-heist-how-ashutosh-scripted-dcs-epic-chase-against-lsg-8887531">IPL 2025 | One-wicket heist: How Ashutosh scripted DC's epic chase against LSG</a>
Gavaskar recounted the tense final over, noting that the moment <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohit-sharma">Mohit Sharma</a> survived a DRS review on the first ball, the crowd sensed DC still had a fighting chance.
"Then came the smart play from Mohit Sharma, an experienced campaigner. He just tapped the ball around, knowing he would not be able to clear the ropes, but the other man&mdash;Ashutosh Sharma&mdash;could. And that was a fabulous finish! This is exactly what we have come to expect from the IPL, yet we always crave more," Gavaskar spoke on 'Match Center Live' at JioHotstar,.
<h2>BOLD finish</h2>
The legendary batter lauded Ashutosh&rsquo;s composure, calling his knock an embodiment of&nbsp;BOLD IPL finishes&mdash;Breath-taking, Outstanding, Lightning, and Devastating.
Reflecting on Ashutosh&rsquo;s journey, Gavaskar noted that his confidence has soared since last season, when he scored 189 runs in nine innings for PBKS at a strike rate of over 167.
"He played some terrific innings (for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a>), and his confidence has only grown since. Once you've done it before, you enter the next season with even greater self-belief. He has also played another season of domestic cricket, where he has been smashing the ball and scoring plenty of runs, so he came in full of confidence. From the very first ball, he was striking it cleanly from the middle of the bat, sending it deep&mdash;these were not just occasional sixes clearing the boundary, they were landing in the stands, again and again. This innings will be remembered for a long, long time&mdash;not just because of the quality of stroke play, but because of the high-pressure situation," Gavaskar signed off.

Cricket, Sports: Ashutosh, carrying forward his fine form from the previous IPL season with PBKS, delivered a match-winning performance, guiding DC to a thrilling win

Following Delhi Capitals' (DC) thrilling one-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar lavished praise on Ashutosh Sharma’s heroic knock. Gavaskar highlighted the youngster’s confidence and composure under pressure, calling it an innings that will be 'remembered for a long time'. Ashutosh, carrying forward his fine form from the previous Indian Premier League season with Punjab Kings (PBKS), delivered a match-winning performance, guiding DC from the brink of defeat to a remarkable victory in their 210-run chase at Vizag on Tuesday (March 24). Also Read: IPL 2025 | One-wicket heist: How Ashutosh scripted DC's epic chase against LSG Gavaskar recounted the tense final over, noting that the moment Mohit Sharma survived a DRS review on the first ball, the crowd sensed DC still had a fighting chance. "Then came the smart play from Mohit Sharma, an experienced campaigner. He just tapped the ball around, knowing he would not be able to clear the ropes, but the other man—Ashutosh Sharma—could. And that was a fabulous finish! This is exactly what we have come to expect from the IPL, yet we always crave more," Gavaskar spoke on 'Match Center Live' at JioHotstar,. BOLD finish The legendary batter lauded Ashutosh’s composure, calling his knock an embodiment of BOLD IPL finishes—Breath-taking, Outstanding, Lightning, and Devastating. Reflecting on Ashutosh’s journey, Gavaskar noted that his confidence has soared since last season, when he scored 189 runs in nine innings for PBKS at a strike rate of over 167. "He played some terrific innings (for Punjab Kings), and his confidence has only grown since. Once you've done it before, you enter the next season with even greater self-belief. He has also played another season of domestic cricket, where he has been smashing the ball and scoring plenty of runs, so he came in full of confidence. From the very first ball, he was striking it cleanly from the middle of the bat, sending it deep—these were not just occasional sixes clearing the boundary, they were landing in the stands, again and again. This innings will be remembered for a long, long time—not just because of the quality of stroke play, but because of the high-pressure situation," Gavaskar signed off.

IPL 2025: 'His innings will be remembered for a long time’, says Gavaskar on Ashutosh's clutch knock

Following a magnificent unbeaten 66 not out, that powered Delhi Capitals (DC) to a stunning win victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), DC batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ashutosh-sharma" rel="dofollow">Ashutosh Sharma</a> reflected on his mindset during the tense run chase, his learnings from a solid 2024 debut season with Punjab Kings (PBKS), and his experiences with team mentor and English legend Kevin Pietersen.
The Railways batter picked up right where he left off during his 2024 season with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">PBKS</a>, delivering a clutch knock that lifted DC from a precarious 65/5 while chasing 210 runs. His effort defied all computer-generated win predictors and turned the match on its head.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ashutosh revealed his composure during the final phase of the chase and his unwavering confidence in his abilities.
"I was confident. It is a part of the game. But it was not a part of my batting. I was very normal&mdash;if he (Mohit Sharma) took a single, I would hit a six. I trusted my ability. I was just following the process, aiming to go as deep as possible and bat till the 20th over," Ashutosh said.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-lsg-assistant-coach-reveals-reasons-on-where-his-team-lost-against-delhi-capitals-8887346">IPL 2025: LSG assistant coach reveals reasons on where his team lost against Delhi Capitals</a>
The batter credited his recent experience in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) at Vizag for his awareness of the pitch conditions, which helped him anticipate challenges in the Indian Premier League. Ashutosh had a strong showing in SMAT 2024, scoring 164 runs in five innings, including two fifties.
<h2>'I have played SMAT 2024 on this Vizag wicket'</h2>
"I have played SMAT 2024 on this Vizag wicket. I could understand how it behaves in both innings and assess the situation easily. The wicket was good for me," he noted.
While Ashutosh acknowledged his impressive stint with PBKS last season, where he scored 189 runs in nine innings with a half-century, he insisted that he is focused on the present. "Last season is history. I took all the positives and have applied myself better now, avoiding past mistakes and implementing what I learned in domestic cricket," he added.
Ashutosh also expressed his admiration for having England icon <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kevin-pietersen">Kevin Pietersen</a> as a mentor for DC. "It is really nice to have him around. He is a legend. I talk to him about batting and what he used to do in his time. I am enjoying learning from him," he signed off.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: The Railways batter picked up right where he left off during his 2024 season with PBKS, delivering a knock that lifted DC from 65/5 while chasing 210

Following a magnificent unbeaten 66 not out, that powered Delhi Capitals (DC) to a stunning win victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), DC batter Ashutosh Sharma reflected on his mindset during the tense run chase, his learnings from a solid 2024 debut season with Punjab Kings (PBKS), and his experiences with team mentor and English legend Kevin Pietersen. The Railways batter picked up right where he left off during his 2024 season with PBKS, delivering a clutch knock that lifted DC from a precarious 65/5 while chasing 210 runs. His effort defied all computer-generated win predictors and turned the match on its head. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ashutosh revealed his composure during the final phase of the chase and his unwavering confidence in his abilities. "I was confident. It is a part of the game. But it was not a part of my batting. I was very normal—if he (Mohit Sharma) took a single, I would hit a six. I trusted my ability. I was just following the process, aiming to go as deep as possible and bat till the 20th over," Ashutosh said. Also Read: IPL 2025: LSG assistant coach reveals reasons on where his team lost against Delhi Capitals The batter credited his recent experience in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) at Vizag for his awareness of the pitch conditions, which helped him anticipate challenges in the Indian Premier League. Ashutosh had a strong showing in SMAT 2024, scoring 164 runs in five innings, including two fifties. 'I have played SMAT 2024 on this Vizag wicket' "I have played SMAT 2024 on this Vizag wicket. I could understand how it behaves in both innings and assess the situation easily. The wicket was good for me," he noted. While Ashutosh acknowledged his impressive stint with PBKS last season, where he scored 189 runs in nine innings with a half-century, he insisted that he is focused on the present. "Last season is history. I took all the positives and have applied myself better now, avoiding past mistakes and implementing what I learned in domestic cricket," he added. Ashutosh also expressed his admiration for having England icon Kevin Pietersen as a mentor for DC. "It is really nice to have him around. He is a legend. I talk to him about batting and what he used to do in his time. I am enjoying learning from him," he signed off. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025 | One-wicket heist: How Ashutosh scripted DC's epic chase against LSG

Following <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lucknow-super-giants">Lucknow Super Giants</a>' (LSG) defeat to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals">Delhi Capitals</a> (DC) in the ongoing Indian Premier League, assistant coach and former South African cricketer Lance Klusener&nbsp;acknowledged that his team fell short of runs and lacked bowling depth. Despite some strong individual performances, LSG struggled to defend their total in a high-scoring encounter at Vizag, where DC successfully chased 210 runs.
Reflecting on the match in the post-game press conference, Klusener emphasised the need for bigger batting partnerships.&nbsp;"We left some runs out there tonight. That is our biggest lesson. It was great to see young players stepping up in high-pressure games, but we need to build better partnerships," Klusner said.
Also Read: H<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/dc-vs-lsg-live-score-catch-ball-by-ball-ipl-2025-updates-delhi-capitals-vs-lucknow-super-giants-match-news-from-aca-vdca-cricket-stadium-8886046">IGHLIGHTS | Delhi Capitals beat Lucknow Super Giants by 1 wicket</a>
His analysis holds weight, as LSG, once comfortably placed at 161/3 in 13.4 overs, suffered a batting collapse against the spin of Kuldeep Yadav and the pace of Mitchell Starc. The team plummeted to 194/8, with key batters Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni, Shardul Thakur, and Shahbaz Ahmed falling cheaply. Barring Nicholas Pooran, who scored a half-century, the middle and lower order failed to make an impact, with Pant and Thakur dismissed for ducks.
<h2>'We don't have reserves in bowling department'</h2>
Klusener also highlighted the team&rsquo;s depleted bowling resources due to injuries sidelining key pacers Mohsin Khan,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/avesh-khan">Avesh Khan</a>, Mayank Yadav, and Akash Deep. LSG fielded only two frontline quicks, Shardul Thakur (Mohsin's replacement) and youngster Prince Yadav, alongside four spinners&mdash;Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, and Shahbaz Ahmed.
"At the moment, we do not have a lot of reserves in the bowling department, so we have to mix and match until our key players return. We bowled well in patches but need more consistency. It&rsquo;s an opportunity for young players to prove themselves," he added.
Klusner lauded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shardul-thakur">Shardul Thakur</a> for his impactful first over, where he picked up two wickets, and praised the match-winning partnership between Ashutosh and Vipraj Nigam that turned the game in DC's favor.
"That partnership was outstanding, and their finishing put us under pressure. When you bat second, the conditions can work in your favour, and they capitalised on that," he signed off.
LSG will now look to regroup and find solutions to their challenges as they await the return of their key players.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: LSG, once comfortably placed at 161/3 in 13.4 overs, suffered a batting collapse against the spin of Kuldeep Yadav and the pace of Mitchell Starc

Following Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) defeat to Delhi Capitals (DC) in the ongoing Indian Premier League, assistant coach and former South African cricketer Lance Klusener acknowledged that his team fell short of runs and lacked bowling depth. Despite some strong individual performances, LSG struggled to defend their total in a high-scoring encounter at Vizag, where DC successfully chased 210 runs. Reflecting on the match in the post-game press conference, Klusener emphasised the need for bigger batting partnerships. "We left some runs out there tonight. That is our biggest lesson. It was great to see young players stepping up in high-pressure games, but we need to build better partnerships," Klusner said. Also Read: HIGHLIGHTS | Delhi Capitals beat Lucknow Super Giants by 1 wicket His analysis holds weight, as LSG, once comfortably placed at 161/3 in 13.4 overs, suffered a batting collapse against the spin of Kuldeep Yadav and the pace of Mitchell Starc. The team plummeted to 194/8, with key batters Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni, Shardul Thakur, and Shahbaz Ahmed falling cheaply. Barring Nicholas Pooran, who scored a half-century, the middle and lower order failed to make an impact, with Pant and Thakur dismissed for ducks. 'We don't have reserves in bowling department' Klusener also highlighted the team’s depleted bowling resources due to injuries sidelining key pacers Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, and Akash Deep. LSG fielded only two frontline quicks, Shardul Thakur (Mohsin's replacement) and youngster Prince Yadav, alongside four spinners—Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, and Shahbaz Ahmed. "At the moment, we do not have a lot of reserves in the bowling department, so we have to mix and match until our key players return. We bowled well in patches but need more consistency. It’s an opportunity for young players to prove themselves," he added. Klusner lauded Shardul Thakur for his impactful first over, where he picked up two wickets, and praised the match-winning partnership between Ashutosh and Vipraj Nigam that turned the game in DC's favor. "That partnership was outstanding, and their finishing put us under pressure. When you bat second, the conditions can work in your favour, and they capitalised on that," he signed off. LSG will now look to regroup and find solutions to their challenges as they await the return of their key players. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: LSG assistant coach reveals reasons on where his team lost against Delhi Capitals

What happens when your landlord is more obsessed with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">IPL</a> than rent payments? Welcome to DC PG by Gulati, where veteran actor Rajesh Sharma plays Gulati, a die-hard Delhi Capitals fan who only allows fellow DC supporters to stay in his PG. But when non-DC fans sneak in, the real IPL drama begins&mdash;off the field!&nbsp;
In an exclusive conversation with WION, Rajesh Sharma shared his excitement about the role, revealing that despite his character's cricket obsession, he was actually a football captain in school and never played cricket. "The excitement was that I had to play cricket for the role," he said. "Cricket in India is like a religion, and if I can connect with people through the right emotion, it takes this religion to a different level."&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-king-khans-pep-talk-to-kkr-god-bless-you-be-healthy-and-play-well-8879692">IPL 2025 | King Khan&rsquo;s Pep Talk to KKR: God Bless You, be healthy and play well</a>
Though he doesn&rsquo;t follow IPL closely, Sharma enjoys discussing the matches with friends. "I like 2-3 teams&mdash;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings">Chennai Super Kings</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a>, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings," he admitted.&nbsp;
On his experience filming the series, Sharma praised the fresh and hardworking team. "The script, written by Panky, was full of natural humor, so I didn&rsquo;t have to improvise much. Everyone on the crew was so involved. That's what made the work fun and easy going."&nbsp;
A self-proclaimed foodie, Sharma couldn&rsquo;t stop raving about Delhi&rsquo;s street food. "There&rsquo;s a guy at CP who sells gajar ka halwa. I would take a 10-minute break from the shoot just to eat it!"&nbsp;
When asked which IPL team he would allow into his character's PG, Sharma was clear: "I would allow everyone. Cricket is about inclusivity."&nbsp;
He also spoke about the challenges of comedy in acting. "Comedy is hard because the person making others laugh is often serious inside. It&rsquo;s about balancing heart and mind, like Bertolt Brecht's theory&mdash;don&rsquo;t just flow with emotions, but work with awareness."
As Delhi Capitals engage their fans with their new mini-web series, they will be keen to start their campaign on a positive note when they face Lucknow Super Giants in the opening match of IPL 2025 on Monday (March 24).&nbsp;
<h2>Rapid fire with Rajesh Sharma:&nbsp;</h2>
Chennai Super Kings or Delhi Capitals-Delhi&nbsp;
All-time favorite cricketer-Mohammad Azharuddin&nbsp;
If you could swap places with a cricketer for a day-Kapil Dev&nbsp;
Cricketer biopic you'd like to star in-Virat Kohli&nbsp;
Who would you spend more time with, Dhoni or Kohli-Dhoni&nbsp;
Your IPL 2025 winner prediction- Kolkata Knight Riders

Sports, Entertainment: Rajesh Sharma shared his excitement about the role, revealing that despite his character's cricket obsession, he never played cricket

What happens when your landlord is more obsessed with IPL than rent payments? Welcome to DC PG by Gulati, where veteran actor Rajesh Sharma plays Gulati, a die-hard Delhi Capitals fan who only allows fellow DC supporters to stay in his PG. But when non-DC fans sneak in, the real IPL drama begins—off the field! In an exclusive conversation with WION, Rajesh Sharma shared his excitement about the role, revealing that despite his character's cricket obsession, he was actually a football captain in school and never played cricket. "The excitement was that I had to play cricket for the role," he said. "Cricket in India is like a religion, and if I can connect with people through the right emotion, it takes this religion to a different level." Also Read: IPL 2025 | King Khan’s Pep Talk to KKR: God Bless You, be healthy and play well Though he doesn’t follow IPL closely, Sharma enjoys discussing the matches with friends. "I like 2-3 teams—Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings," he admitted. On his experience filming the series, Sharma praised the fresh and hardworking team. "The script, written by Panky, was full of natural humor, so I didn’t have to improvise much. Everyone on the crew was so involved. That's what made the work fun and easy going." A self-proclaimed foodie, Sharma couldn’t stop raving about Delhi’s street food. "There’s a guy at CP who sells gajar ka halwa. I would take a 10-minute break from the shoot just to eat it!" When asked which IPL team he would allow into his character's PG, Sharma was clear: "I would allow everyone. Cricket is about inclusivity." He also spoke about the challenges of comedy in acting. "Comedy is hard because the person making others laugh is often serious inside. It’s about balancing heart and mind, like Bertolt Brecht's theory—don’t just flow with emotions, but work with awareness." As Delhi Capitals engage their fans with their new mini-web series, they will be keen to start their campaign on a positive note when they face Lucknow Super Giants in the opening match of IPL 2025 on Monday (March 24). Rapid fire with Rajesh Sharma: Chennai Super Kings or Delhi Capitals-Delhi All-time favorite cricketer-Mohammad Azharuddin If you could swap places with a cricketer for a day-Kapil Dev Cricketer biopic you'd like to star in-Virat Kohli Who would you spend more time with, Dhoni or Kohli-Dhoni Your IPL 2025 winner prediction- Kolkata Knight Riders

Exclusive | IPL 2025: IPL kickstarts and so does the fun with Rajesh Sharma's new show

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals" rel="dofollow">Delhi Capitals</a> (DC) could be without its marquee Indian player, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kl-rahul" rel="dofollow">KL Rahul</a>, for their first two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a> games. Delhi opens its account against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday (Mar 24) in Vizag, and the latest reports suggest that Rahul could be missing that match for personal reasons.
After India&rsquo;s Champions Trophy win in Dubai, Rahul announced he and his wife Athiya Shetty are awaiting the birth of their first child. As first informed by Australian women&rsquo;s team cricketer Alyssa Healy during a recent chat on YouTube channel - LiSTNR Sport, Rahul could be away for the first two DC games, with the franchise losing two key batters, including England batter Harry Brook, who pulled out of the impending season earlier, for their tournament opener.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-no-bans-for-captains-in-slow-over-rate-offense-as-bcci-revises-playing-conditions-8876093" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: No bans for captains in slow over-rate offence as BCCI revises playing conditions</a>
&ldquo;No Harry Brook, (so) it will be interesting to see who the replacement player will be. They have KL Rahul, who will probably not play the first couple of games, I think... they are awaiting the birth of (their) child, but that dynamic is really cool,&rdquo; Healy, who joined the DC camp earlier, said during the chat.&nbsp;
&ldquo;They have that power in the young guys, but they also have a KL Rahul who can stitch the innings in T20 cricket. He's going to be really exciting to watch,&rdquo; she continued.
<h3>Watch -</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8ipo55j-oeb13cfr-h4e58z6p">
KL RAHUL set to miss first couple of matches <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2025</a> <a href="https://t.co/HS7vQJbUU7">pic.twitter.com/HS7vQJbUU7</a>
&mdash; Sanskar Gupta (@Sanskar7701) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sanskar7701/status/1902636310734442499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
Though the franchise is yet to announce Brook&rsquo;s replacement, who cannot register his name in the IPL auction until 2028, DC will have to find an apt replacement for Rahul for the two matches to ensure they are well-equipped and ready to take down their oppositions.&nbsp;
While Rahul was the frontrunner to lead Delhi in the impending season, he denied accepting the role, with the franchise appointing all-rounder Axar Patel as the new captain. The Proteas batting great, and their former skipper, Faf du Plessis, will play as his deputy.&nbsp;
<h2>DC-LSG ready for a blockbuster show</h2>
After LSG and Rahul mutually decided to part ways following their first three seasons together, the Lucknow-based outfit purchased ex-DC captain Rishabh Pant for a whopping $31 million (INR 27 crore) at the mega auction late last year, with Delhi bagging Rahul&rsquo;s services for $1.2 million (INR 12 crore).
With no Rahul and Brook, it remains to be seen what batting lineup DC would go ahead with for their first two matches.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: After India's Champions Trophy triumph over New Zealand in Dubai, KL Rahul announced he and his wife are expecting the birth of their first child.

Delhi Capitals (DC) could be without its marquee Indian player, KL Rahul, for their first two IPL 2025 games. Delhi opens its account against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday (Mar 24) in Vizag, and the latest reports suggest that Rahul could be missing that match for personal reasons. After India’s Champions Trophy win in Dubai, Rahul announced he and his wife Athiya Shetty are awaiting the birth of their first child. As first informed by Australian women’s team cricketer Alyssa Healy during a recent chat on YouTube channel - LiSTNR Sport, Rahul could be away for the first two DC games, with the franchise losing two key batters, including England batter Harry Brook, who pulled out of the impending season earlier, for their tournament opener. Also read | IPL 2025: No bans for captains in slow over-rate offence as BCCI revises playing conditions “No Harry Brook, (so) it will be interesting to see who the replacement player will be. They have KL Rahul, who will probably not play the first couple of games, I think... they are awaiting the birth of (their) child, but that dynamic is really cool,” Healy, who joined the DC camp earlier, said during the chat. “They have that power in the young guys, but they also have a KL Rahul who can stitch the innings in T20 cricket. He's going to be really exciting to watch,” she continued. Watch - KL RAHUL set to miss first couple of matches #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/HS7vQJbUU7 — Sanskar Gupta (@Sanskar7701) March 20, 2025 Though the franchise is yet to announce Brook’s replacement, who cannot register his name in the IPL auction until 2028, DC will have to find an apt replacement for Rahul for the two matches to ensure they are well-equipped and ready to take down their oppositions. While Rahul was the frontrunner to lead Delhi in the impending season, he denied accepting the role, with the franchise appointing all-rounder Axar Patel as the new captain. The Proteas batting great, and their former skipper, Faf du Plessis, will play as his deputy. DC-LSG ready for a blockbuster show After LSG and Rahul mutually decided to part ways following their first three seasons together, the Lucknow-based outfit purchased ex-DC captain Rishabh Pant for a whopping $31 million (INR 27 crore) at the mega auction late last year, with Delhi bagging Rahul’s services for $1.2 million (INR 12 crore). With no Rahul and Brook, it remains to be seen what batting lineup DC would go ahead with for their first two matches. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: KL Rahul to miss Delhi Capitals' first two games for personal reasons - Report

In the high-stakes world of T20 cricket, young talents emerge from the shadows, leaving fans and pundits in awe. One such rising star is <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/tristan-stubbs">Tristan Stubbs</a>, the South African all-rounder who has been making waves with his explosive batting and confident gameplay. As he gears up for the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> season, expectations are high, and the excitement surrounding his performances continues to grow.
During a recent interaction, Stubbs, who plays for the Delhi Capitals franchise, was pleasantly surprised to learn that none other than <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ab-de-villiers">AB de Villiers</a> had praised him as one of the most wonderful all-rounders and an exciting player to watch. "I never knew that," he admitted with a smile. "It's pretty cool to hear, and hopefully, I can try to be even half of what he was one day." However, rather than seeing such praise as added pressure, Stubbs takes it as a confidence boost, focusing on his growth as a player.
The past year has been transformative for the young cricketer. From fine-tuning his mental approach to refining his decision-making under pressure, Stubbs has matured significantly. "I was doing some not-so-smart things out in the middle, but I figured out how to control my emotions when the pressure is on," he reflected. "Now, it's all about learning and applying it in big moments."
As an overseas player in the IPL, adapting to Indian conditions is crucial. Stubbs acknowledges the challenges, particularly the spin-friendly pitches. "You need a Plan B and even a Plan C because Plan A might not work on a given day," he explained. He also highlighted his experience sharing a dressing room with Rohit Sharma, learning from the Mumbai Indians captain's calm demeanor and strategic mindset.
With the Delhi Capitals eyeing their maiden IPL title, Stubbs believes that under the leadership of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/axar-patel">Axar Patel</a>, the team has the right energy and talent to make a serious impact. "Having Axar in the team is a huge bonus. He makes the bowlers feel calm, and his confidence rubs off on the rest of us. Hopefully, we can feed off that energy and go all the way."
<h2>'Enjoy range hitting in practice'</h2>
Despite his reputation as a big hitter, Stubbs remains a student of the game, constantly working on his technique and approach. "I enjoy range hitting in practice, just to see the ball go over the ropes and find my swing," he shared. His preparation also includes gaining insights from experienced mentors like Mike Schmidt, his coach from school days, whom he still consults regularly.
As he sets his sights on the IPL, Stubbs knows that challenges lie ahead. Whether facing world-class spinners or handling the pressure of high-scoring chases, he remains committed to his craft. "Sometimes, when you need 12 an over, it feels impossible. But once you've done it before, you know how to break it down and approach it with a clear mind."
With his fearless approach, dedication, and ever-improving skill set, Tristan Stubbs is not just a name to watch&mdash;he's a force to be reckoned with. As the IPL unfolds, fans will be eager to witness his journey, hoping he can turn potential into match-winning performances and help Delhi Capitals create history.

Sports, Cricket: Stubbs was surprised to learn that none other than AB de Villiers had praised him as one of the most wonderful all-rounders and an exciting player to watch

In the high-stakes world of T20 cricket, young talents emerge from the shadows, leaving fans and pundits in awe. One such rising star is Tristan Stubbs, the South African all-rounder who has been making waves with his explosive batting and confident gameplay. As he gears up for the upcoming Indian Premier League season, expectations are high, and the excitement surrounding his performances continues to grow. During a recent interaction, Stubbs, who plays for the Delhi Capitals franchise, was pleasantly surprised to learn that none other than AB de Villiers had praised him as one of the most wonderful all-rounders and an exciting player to watch. "I never knew that," he admitted with a smile. "It's pretty cool to hear, and hopefully, I can try to be even half of what he was one day." However, rather than seeing such praise as added pressure, Stubbs takes it as a confidence boost, focusing on his growth as a player. The past year has been transformative for the young cricketer. From fine-tuning his mental approach to refining his decision-making under pressure, Stubbs has matured significantly. "I was doing some not-so-smart things out in the middle, but I figured out how to control my emotions when the pressure is on," he reflected. "Now, it's all about learning and applying it in big moments." As an overseas player in the IPL, adapting to Indian conditions is crucial. Stubbs acknowledges the challenges, particularly the spin-friendly pitches. "You need a Plan B and even a Plan C because Plan A might not work on a given day," he explained. He also highlighted his experience sharing a dressing room with Rohit Sharma, learning from the Mumbai Indians captain's calm demeanor and strategic mindset. With the Delhi Capitals eyeing their maiden IPL title, Stubbs believes that under the leadership of Axar Patel, the team has the right energy and talent to make a serious impact. "Having Axar in the team is a huge bonus. He makes the bowlers feel calm, and his confidence rubs off on the rest of us. Hopefully, we can feed off that energy and go all the way." 'Enjoy range hitting in practice' Despite his reputation as a big hitter, Stubbs remains a student of the game, constantly working on his technique and approach. "I enjoy range hitting in practice, just to see the ball go over the ropes and find my swing," he shared. His preparation also includes gaining insights from experienced mentors like Mike Schmidt, his coach from school days, whom he still consults regularly. As he sets his sights on the IPL, Stubbs knows that challenges lie ahead. Whether facing world-class spinners or handling the pressure of high-scoring chases, he remains committed to his craft. "Sometimes, when you need 12 an over, it feels impossible. But once you've done it before, you know how to break it down and approach it with a clear mind." With his fearless approach, dedication, and ever-improving skill set, Tristan Stubbs is not just a name to watch—he's a force to be reckoned with. As the IPL unfolds, fans will be eager to witness his journey, hoping he can turn potential into match-winning performances and help Delhi Capitals create history.

Exclusive | IPL 2025: 'Hopefully, I can be half the player he was’ – Delhi Capitals' Tristan Stubbs on praise from AB de Villiers

England batter Harry Brook pulled out of the impending IPL season after getting picked by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals" rel="dofollow">Delhi Capitals</a> at the mega auction late last year. Had it been the previous season, he would have gotten away with this, which he did, but, with the IPL council laying strict penalties for anyone doing so if not injured or for unavoidable reasons, that player shall be banned for two years, which happened with Brook. His former teammate Moeen Ali agrees with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/englands-harry-brook-banned-for-two-years-after-opting-out-of-ipl-report-8851296" rel="dofollow">BCCI for banning Brook</a>.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not harsh. I kind of agree with it, in a way, because a lot of people do that,&rdquo; Moeen Ali said on the podcast &ldquo;Beard Before Cricket.&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/delhi-capitals-appoint-former-rcb-captain-as-axar-patels-deputy-ahead-of-ipl-2025-faf-du-plessis-8861904" rel="dofollow">DC appoint former RCB captain as Axar Patel&rsquo;s deputy ahead of IPL 2025</a>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-harry-brook-opts-out-for-second-successive-season-faces-possible-two-year-ban-8838405" rel="dofollow">Brook pulled out of the cash-rich league for the second straight season</a> to stay committed to his national duty with the England Team. While Delhi Capitals purchased him for INR 6.25 crore, last year&rsquo;s runners-up, SunRisers Hyderabad, bagged Brook&rsquo;s services for INR 4 crore ahead of IPL 2024.
Moeen noted how plenty of players have done it before for their reasons, adding it's good that BCCI made a note of it by putting up a ban for up to two years. Moeen, who played for several IPL teams before, said when a player opts out at the last minute, he messes things up for the side that had, by then, prepared a chart on how to go about the season.
&ldquo;A lot of people have done it in the past, and then they come back in, and they end up getting a better financial package, or whatever it is. And he kind of messes a lot of things up as well at the same time,&rdquo; Moeen said. &ldquo;I mean, it&rsquo;s messed his team up, obviously, by pulling out. Any team that loses Harry Brook is messed up a bit, and they&rsquo;ve got to now rejig everything and stuff like that.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Forget him for a second, but if you do pull out, the rule is that you get a ban unless it&rsquo;s for family reasons or&hellip; due to injury or something. If it&rsquo;s injury or something, it&rsquo;s different. But I think if you just pull out, then it&rsquo;s&hellip; I kind of agree with the teams. You actually mess a lot of stuff up.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a top player. They&rsquo;ve probably picked the team around him, and then all of a sudden, you&rsquo;re pulling out,&rdquo; Ali noted.
<h2>Not harsh</h2>
Echoing Moeen&rsquo;s words, his former teammate and England international Adil Rashid spoke on the same lines, saying Brook knew from the beginning what the repercussions were, and since he did pull out despite knowing about them, BCCI&rsquo;s call to ban Brook wasn&rsquo;t harsh at all.&nbsp;
&ldquo;So, when you put your name in, you know if you pull out, this is going to happen. So, you know the consequences of it. So, I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s harsh.&nbsp;
&ldquo;No, but if you pull out and you have, like you say, an injury or whatever, then I think that&rsquo;s where something like the rules may differ or change in that way.
&ldquo;Not just him (Harry Brook), but&hellip; But this has been going on for, I don&rsquo;t know, for a little while, I reckon. Mo (Moeen Ali) has been in the IPL a lot longer, but in the past probably five, or ten years, a lot of players have been selected generally and have pulled out. So that&rsquo;s why they&rsquo;re trying to stop it that way,&rdquo; Rashid added.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Harry Brook pulled out of the cash-rich league for the second straight season to stay committed to his national duty with the England Team.

England batter Harry Brook pulled out of the impending IPL season after getting picked by Delhi Capitals at the mega auction late last year. Had it been the previous season, he would have gotten away with this, which he did, but, with the IPL council laying strict penalties for anyone doing so if not injured or for unavoidable reasons, that player shall be banned for two years, which happened with Brook. His former teammate Moeen Ali agrees with BCCI for banning Brook. “It’s not harsh. I kind of agree with it, in a way, because a lot of people do that,” Moeen Ali said on the podcast “Beard Before Cricket.” Also read | DC appoint former RCB captain as Axar Patel’s deputy ahead of IPL 2025 Brook pulled out of the cash-rich league for the second straight season to stay committed to his national duty with the England Team. While Delhi Capitals purchased him for INR 6.25 crore, last year’s runners-up, SunRisers Hyderabad, bagged Brook’s services for INR 4 crore ahead of IPL 2024. Moeen noted how plenty of players have done it before for their reasons, adding it's good that BCCI made a note of it by putting up a ban for up to two years. Moeen, who played for several IPL teams before, said when a player opts out at the last minute, he messes things up for the side that had, by then, prepared a chart on how to go about the season. “A lot of people have done it in the past, and then they come back in, and they end up getting a better financial package, or whatever it is. And he kind of messes a lot of things up as well at the same time,” Moeen said. “I mean, it’s messed his team up, obviously, by pulling out. Any team that loses Harry Brook is messed up a bit, and they’ve got to now rejig everything and stuff like that.” “Forget him for a second, but if you do pull out, the rule is that you get a ban unless it’s for family reasons or… due to injury or something. If it’s injury or something, it’s different. But I think if you just pull out, then it’s… I kind of agree with the teams. You actually mess a lot of stuff up. “He’s a top player. They’ve probably picked the team around him, and then all of a sudden, you’re pulling out,” Ali noted. Not harsh Echoing Moeen’s words, his former teammate and England international Adil Rashid spoke on the same lines, saying Brook knew from the beginning what the repercussions were, and since he did pull out despite knowing about them, BCCI’s call to ban Brook wasn’t harsh at all. “So, when you put your name in, you know if you pull out, this is going to happen. So, you know the consequences of it. So, I don’t think it’s harsh. “No, but if you pull out and you have, like you say, an injury or whatever, then I think that’s where something like the rules may differ or change in that way. “Not just him (Harry Brook), but… But this has been going on for, I don’t know, for a little while, I reckon. Mo (Moeen Ali) has been in the IPL a lot longer, but in the past probably five, or ten years, a lot of players have been selected generally and have pulled out. So that’s why they’re trying to stop it that way,” Rashid added. (With inputs from agencies)

BCCI was right in banning Harry Brook for IPL 2025 pullout, says Moeen Ali

IPL franchise <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals" rel="dofollow">Delhi Capitals</a> have appointed former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/faf-du-plessis" rel="dofollow">Faf du Plessis</a> as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/axar-patel" rel="dofollow">Axar Patel</a>&rsquo;s deputy ahead of the 18th edition beginning next Saturday. The Delhi-based franchise announced his appointment on their social media handles.
"You mean right now? I'm at home, where else would I be? Yes, that's true, I'm vice-captain of DC, and I'm very excited. Delhi's been great, the boys have been fantastic, definitely feel happy, and I feel ready," du Plessis said in a video shared by DC on Monday.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/yuvraj-singh-involved-in-heated-face-off-with-west-indies-pacer-tino-best-during-iml-2025-final-watch-8860160" rel="dofollow">Yuvraj Singh involved in heated faceoff with West Indies pacer Tino Best during IML 2025 final- WATCH</a>
<h3>Watch Video -</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8cy2w00-i2gfgaif-7uqozijp">
Pick up your phones, it&rsquo;s your vice-captain calling 💙❤️ <a href="https://t.co/W3AkYO4QKZ">pic.twitter.com/W3AkYO4QKZ</a>
&mdash; Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1901547692079374435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
Faf led the RCB side for three years - 2022 to 2024, and after being left out ahead of the mega auctions in Jeddah late last year, DC secured his services for INR 2 crore. Faf&rsquo;s appointment as Delhi&rsquo;s new vice-captain also secures his place in the playing XI for the impending season.&nbsp;
Having captained South Africa across formats for most of the last decade and rubbing shoulders with some of the best leaders in the game, including veteran MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Faf&rsquo;s experience will help Axar in decision-making in his maiden season as an IPL captain.
<h2>Seasoned campaigner at work</h2>
Even at the RCB, Faf captained 42 matches across three seasons, with the side winning 21 and losing as many. Under his leadership, RCB made it to the playoffs twice, including last year after beating CSK in a thriller at home, but fell shy in the eliminators on both occasions. Faf has smashed 2,718 runs in 74 matches in the past five seasons as a top-order batter.
Meanwhile, the newly-formed leadership group will work in tandem with the coaching staff, including head coach Hemang Badani, Venugopal Rao as director of cricket, Munaf Patel as bowling coach, Matthew Mott as an assistant coach, Kevin Pietersen as a mentor, and Gnaneswara Rao and Anton Roux as fielding coaches, respectively.
Among the four teams left to have never lifted an IPL trophy, DC has a chance to write history in IPL 2025, where they face off against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their tournament opener on Monday (Mar 24) in Vizag.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Under Faf du Plessis' leadership, RCB, his former IPL team, made it to the playoffs twice but fell shy in the Eliminators on both occasions.

IPL franchise Delhi Capitals have appointed former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Faf du Plessis as Axar Patel’s deputy ahead of the 18th edition beginning next Saturday. The Delhi-based franchise announced his appointment on their social media handles. "You mean right now? I'm at home, where else would I be? Yes, that's true, I'm vice-captain of DC, and I'm very excited. Delhi's been great, the boys have been fantastic, definitely feel happy, and I feel ready," du Plessis said in a video shared by DC on Monday. Also read | Yuvraj Singh involved in heated faceoff with West Indies pacer Tino Best during IML 2025 final- WATCH Watch Video - Pick up your phones, it’s your vice-captain calling 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/W3AkYO4QKZ — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 17, 2025 Faf led the RCB side for three years - 2022 to 2024, and after being left out ahead of the mega auctions in Jeddah late last year, DC secured his services for INR 2 crore. Faf’s appointment as Delhi’s new vice-captain also secures his place in the playing XI for the impending season. Having captained South Africa across formats for most of the last decade and rubbing shoulders with some of the best leaders in the game, including veteran MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Faf’s experience will help Axar in decision-making in his maiden season as an IPL captain. Seasoned campaigner at work Even at the RCB, Faf captained 42 matches across three seasons, with the side winning 21 and losing as many. Under his leadership, RCB made it to the playoffs twice, including last year after beating CSK in a thriller at home, but fell shy in the eliminators on both occasions. Faf has smashed 2,718 runs in 74 matches in the past five seasons as a top-order batter. Meanwhile, the newly-formed leadership group will work in tandem with the coaching staff, including head coach Hemang Badani, Venugopal Rao as director of cricket, Munaf Patel as bowling coach, Matthew Mott as an assistant coach, Kevin Pietersen as a mentor, and Gnaneswara Rao and Anton Roux as fielding coaches, respectively. Among the four teams left to have never lifted an IPL trophy, DC has a chance to write history in IPL 2025, where they face off against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their tournament opener on Monday (Mar 24) in Vizag. (With inputs from agencies)

DC appoint former RCB captain as Axar Patel’s deputy ahead of IPL 2025

Amid the bustling pre-season preparations for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a>, Karun Nair sat calmly in front of the media, clad in the blue and red of Delhi Capitals jersey. His demeanor was composed, his responses measured, and his eyes carried the quiet intensity of a man who had seen both the soaring highs and humbling lows of cricket.
Karun&rsquo;s career has been one of stark contrasts. He became only the second Indian to score a triple century in Test cricket, an achievement that should have cemented his place in the national team. However, fate had other plans, and the doors to the Indian team seemed to close sooner than expected. Yet, the weight of being in and out of contention never crushed his spirit. Instead, it fueled an inner fire, a desire to prove himself again.
In the last domestic season, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/karun-nair">Karun Nair</a> showcased the kind of form that reminded everyone of his talent. His batting was a spectacle&mdash;fluid, fearless, and composed under pressure. Match after match, he made runs with an ease that made it clear he was far from done. His performances were a testament to his hunger, a reminder to selectors that he still had much to offer.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/yuvraj-singh-involved-in-heated-face-off-with-west-indies-pacer-tino-best-during-iml-2025-final-watch-8860160">Yuvraj Singh involved in heated face-off with West Indies pacer Tino Best during IML 2025 final- WATCH</a>
<h2>'Feels great to be back in Delhi'</h2>
Now, as he returns to Delhi Capitals, he spoke with gratitude and excitement about the new season.
&ldquo;It feels great to be back. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals">Delhi Capitals</a> have always been a special franchise for me. But this is a fresh start, a new opportunity,&rdquo; he said while answering a question from WION during an interaction with journalists.&nbsp; His voice was steady, betraying no signs of frustration about the years spent waiting for another IPL chance.
Asked about his recent run of form, he exuded confidence but avoided arrogance. &ldquo;I have been playing cricket for a long time now, and it&rsquo;s always about how you handle the ups and downs. These last two years have been crucial for me in terms of rediscovering my game and my hunger for runs,&rdquo; he explained.
Despite the probing questions about his absence from the IPL and the Indian team, Karun remained unshaken. He knew his game, trusted his process, and most importantly, understood the importance of staying prepared. &ldquo;I just want to go out there, enjoy my cricket, and contribute whenever I get the chance. There are no personal targets&mdash;just the goal of helping the team win,&rdquo; he asserted, reflecting a mindset focused on the present rather than the past.
The return to Delhi, however, brought back memories. The last time he played for Delhi, it was under the name Delhi Daredevils. Now, years later, the name had changed, and so had Karun&mdash;older, wiser, and more determined.
As the IPL season loomed, Karun&rsquo;s journey was a narrative of perseverance. He had nothing to prove to anyone but himself. He had seen the glory of scoring a triple century, the agony of being overlooked, and the grind of domestic cricket. Through it all, he had held onto the one motivation that had always driven him: Playing for India again.
For now, though, his eyes are set on the IPL. He is ready to seize every opportunity, to let his bat do the talking, and to remind the world why Karun Nair still belonged on the biggest stage.

Sports, Cricket: In the last domestic season, Karun showcased the kind of form that reminded everyone of his talent. His batting was a spectacle—fluid, fearless, and composed

Amid the bustling pre-season preparations for the Indian Premier League, Karun Nair sat calmly in front of the media, clad in the blue and red of Delhi Capitals jersey. His demeanor was composed, his responses measured, and his eyes carried the quiet intensity of a man who had seen both the soaring highs and humbling lows of cricket. Karun’s career has been one of stark contrasts. He became only the second Indian to score a triple century in Test cricket, an achievement that should have cemented his place in the national team. However, fate had other plans, and the doors to the Indian team seemed to close sooner than expected. Yet, the weight of being in and out of contention never crushed his spirit. Instead, it fueled an inner fire, a desire to prove himself again. In the last domestic season, Karun Nair showcased the kind of form that reminded everyone of his talent. His batting was a spectacle—fluid, fearless, and composed under pressure. Match after match, he made runs with an ease that made it clear he was far from done. His performances were a testament to his hunger, a reminder to selectors that he still had much to offer. Also Read: Yuvraj Singh involved in heated face-off with West Indies pacer Tino Best during IML 2025 final- WATCH 'Feels great to be back in Delhi' Now, as he returns to Delhi Capitals, he spoke with gratitude and excitement about the new season. “It feels great to be back. Delhi Capitals have always been a special franchise for me. But this is a fresh start, a new opportunity,” he said while answering a question from WION during an interaction with journalists. His voice was steady, betraying no signs of frustration about the years spent waiting for another IPL chance. Asked about his recent run of form, he exuded confidence but avoided arrogance. “I have been playing cricket for a long time now, and it’s always about how you handle the ups and downs. These last two years have been crucial for me in terms of rediscovering my game and my hunger for runs,” he explained. Despite the probing questions about his absence from the IPL and the Indian team, Karun remained unshaken. He knew his game, trusted his process, and most importantly, understood the importance of staying prepared. “I just want to go out there, enjoy my cricket, and contribute whenever I get the chance. There are no personal targets—just the goal of helping the team win,” he asserted, reflecting a mindset focused on the present rather than the past. The return to Delhi, however, brought back memories. The last time he played for Delhi, it was under the name Delhi Daredevils. Now, years later, the name had changed, and so had Karun—older, wiser, and more determined. As the IPL season loomed, Karun’s journey was a narrative of perseverance. He had nothing to prove to anyone but himself. He had seen the glory of scoring a triple century, the agony of being overlooked, and the grind of domestic cricket. Through it all, he had held onto the one motivation that had always driven him: Playing for India again. For now, though, his eyes are set on the IPL. He is ready to seize every opportunity, to let his bat do the talking, and to remind the world why Karun Nair still belonged on the biggest stage.

IPL 2025 | From forgotten to formidable: Karun Nair lets his bat do the talking

At 36, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohit-sharma">Mohit Sharma</a> is not just another fast bowler trying to extend his career&mdash;he is a seasoned warrior, a quiet enforcer, and a man who has seen every high and low the game has to offer. When he came for the pre-season interactions with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals">Delhi Capitals</a>, he carried with him the same warm smile that has been his signature for years. He greeted everyone with respect, exchanged laughs, and exuded an easy-going charm that made even the most intense cricket discussions feel like casual banter. But behind that ever-present smile lies an unrelenting spirit, one that refuses to fade away.
Mohit&rsquo;s journey in cricket has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. From being a key player in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings">Chennai Super Kings</a>&rsquo; dominant era to an IPL Purple Cap winner, then battling injuries and setbacks, and finally making a roaring comeback with Gujarat Titans&mdash;he has lived through every possible phase of a cricketer&rsquo;s life. Now, as he dons the Delhi Capitals jersey, the hunger remains the same, but the wisdom he brings to the team is even greater.
His approach to preparation is methodical yet adaptive. &ldquo;I am preparing myself overall, to be honest. I am taking care of my body, bowling with both the new ball and the old ball, and making sure I am ready for any situation,&rdquo; he shared. For a format as volatile as T20, adaptability is everything, and Mohit has mastered the art of reinventing himself time and again.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/massive-boost-for-rajasthan-royals-as-star-indian-duo-joins-squad-ahead-of-ipl-2025-sanju-samson-yashasvi-jaiswal-8859055">Massive boost for Rajasthan Royals as star Indian duo joins squad ahead of IPL 2025</a>
One of the key aspects of his game has been his ability to handle setbacks with grace. He has never been one to dwell on losses or bask too long in victories. Even when asked about one of the most heartbreaking moments of his career&mdash;the 2023 IPL final, where a couple of crucial deliveries changed the game&mdash;his response was one of acceptance and perspective. &ldquo;I believe in destiny. If something good happens, I move forward. If something bad happens, I go back to the nets,&rdquo; he said, shrugging off any lingering regrets.
Delhi Capitals will look to tap into this experience, especially with a bowling attack that features both young firepower and experienced campaigners. The presence of a veteran like Mohit Sharma in the dressing room will undoubtedly be invaluable, not just for his skill but for the calmness and clarity he brings. &ldquo;In T20s, you will get hit. If you are afraid of getting hit for sixes, you won&rsquo;t take wickets,&rdquo; he says with a smile, emphasising the importance of courage in high-pressure situations.
<h2>'Starc will bring great value to team'</h2>
A crucial addition to this IPL season will be <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mitchell-starc">Mitchell Starc</a>, a bowler Mohit Sharma deeply respects. When asked about the Australian speedster&rsquo;s impact, Mohit was candid in his admiration. &ldquo;Experience matters a lot in T20s, not just in terms of performance but in learning. Having someone like Starc in the mix brings great value to the team. We have all taken hits in this format, but it&rsquo;s about bouncing back. Starc's ability to deliver in crunch moments will be crucial for us.&rdquo;
Mohit also acknowledges the role of great mentors in his career, particularly his time under <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/msd">MS Dhoni</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ashish-nehra">Ashish Nehra</a>. Now, as he steps into a new environment, he brings with him the lessons of leadership, patience, and resilience. Having been a part of IPL for over a decade, he understands that reputations mean little&mdash;execution on the field is everything.
As Delhi Capitals prepare for the upcoming IPL season, Mohit Sharma remains a fascinating subplot in their campaign. Will he once again prove his mettle and script another chapter in his storied career? If his past is any indication, the answer lies in the same smile that never leaves his face&mdash;one that says he&rsquo;s ready for whatever comes next.

Cricket, Sports: Mohit acknowledges the role of great mentors in his career, particularly his time under MS Dhoni and Ashish Nehra as he steps into a new environment

At 36, Mohit Sharma is not just another fast bowler trying to extend his career—he is a seasoned warrior, a quiet enforcer, and a man who has seen every high and low the game has to offer. When he came for the pre-season interactions with Delhi Capitals, he carried with him the same warm smile that has been his signature for years. He greeted everyone with respect, exchanged laughs, and exuded an easy-going charm that made even the most intense cricket discussions feel like casual banter. But behind that ever-present smile lies an unrelenting spirit, one that refuses to fade away. Mohit’s journey in cricket has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. From being a key player in Chennai Super Kings’ dominant era to an IPL Purple Cap winner, then battling injuries and setbacks, and finally making a roaring comeback with Gujarat Titans—he has lived through every possible phase of a cricketer’s life. Now, as he dons the Delhi Capitals jersey, the hunger remains the same, but the wisdom he brings to the team is even greater. His approach to preparation is methodical yet adaptive. “I am preparing myself overall, to be honest. I am taking care of my body, bowling with both the new ball and the old ball, and making sure I am ready for any situation,” he shared. For a format as volatile as T20, adaptability is everything, and Mohit has mastered the art of reinventing himself time and again. Also Read: Massive boost for Rajasthan Royals as star Indian duo joins squad ahead of IPL 2025 One of the key aspects of his game has been his ability to handle setbacks with grace. He has never been one to dwell on losses or bask too long in victories. Even when asked about one of the most heartbreaking moments of his career—the 2023 IPL final, where a couple of crucial deliveries changed the game—his response was one of acceptance and perspective. “I believe in destiny. If something good happens, I move forward. If something bad happens, I go back to the nets,” he said, shrugging off any lingering regrets. Delhi Capitals will look to tap into this experience, especially with a bowling attack that features both young firepower and experienced campaigners. The presence of a veteran like Mohit Sharma in the dressing room will undoubtedly be invaluable, not just for his skill but for the calmness and clarity he brings. “In T20s, you will get hit. If you are afraid of getting hit for sixes, you won’t take wickets,” he says with a smile, emphasising the importance of courage in high-pressure situations. 'Starc will bring great value to team' A crucial addition to this IPL season will be Mitchell Starc, a bowler Mohit Sharma deeply respects. When asked about the Australian speedster’s impact, Mohit was candid in his admiration. “Experience matters a lot in T20s, not just in terms of performance but in learning. Having someone like Starc in the mix brings great value to the team. We have all taken hits in this format, but it’s about bouncing back. Starc's ability to deliver in crunch moments will be crucial for us.” Mohit also acknowledges the role of great mentors in his career, particularly his time under MS Dhoni and Ashish Nehra. Now, as he steps into a new environment, he brings with him the lessons of leadership, patience, and resilience. Having been a part of IPL for over a decade, he understands that reputations mean little—execution on the field is everything. As Delhi Capitals prepare for the upcoming IPL season, Mohit Sharma remains a fascinating subplot in their campaign. Will he once again prove his mettle and script another chapter in his storied career? If his past is any indication, the answer lies in the same smile that never leaves his face—one that says he’s ready for whatever comes next.

IPL 2025 | Mohit Sharma: The smiling warrior gearing up for a new challenge with Delhi Capitals

Meg Lanning&rsquo;s emotions were on full display as the final of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/womens-premier-league">Women's Premier League</a> slipped away from her team. A tear welled up in her eye, a fleeting moment of heartbreak after coming so close to victory. But as soon as the camera turned to her, she quickly wiped it away, replacing it with a composed smile. It was a brief yet powerful glimpse into the mindset of a champion&mdash;someone who feels the pain of defeat but chooses to face it with grace and dignity.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/meg-lanning">Meg Lanning</a> has nothing left to prove. She is, without a doubt, one of the greatest captains in cricket history. A six-time ICC trophy-winning leader, she has steered Australia to five T20 World Cup titles (2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023) and an ODI World Cup triumph in 2022. Add to that a Commonwealth Games gold medal (2022) and multiple domestic trophies, and you get a cricketer whose name is synonymous with success.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/nz-vs-pak-t20-series-black-caps-romp-to-nine-wicket-win-in-first-match-8857753">NZ vs PAK T20 series: Black Caps romp to nine-wicket win in first match</a>
Yet, despite all her achievements, there is one trophy that continues to slip through her fingers&mdash;the Women&rsquo;s Premier League (WPL). For the third consecutive season, Lanning led the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals">Delhi Capitals</a> to the final, only to see her team falter when it mattered the most.
<h2>How Delhi Capitals fell short in final</h2>
The night was set for a grand showdown. Under the bright lights of the Brabourne Stadium, Meg Lanning led her Delhi Capitals onto the field, determined to end their finals curse. Facing them were the defending champions from the first season, Mumbai Indians, led by the ever-composed Harmanpreet Kaur. It was a battle of two of the fiercest teams in the Women's Premier League, but as the night unfolded, it turned into yet another heartbreak for Delhi.
Meg Lanning won the toss and put Mumbai into bat, trusting her bowlers to give them an edge. Her decision seemed justified early on when Marizanne Kapp struck twice in the powerplay, reducing Mumbai to 29/2. The Capitals' bowlers were on fire, and for a moment, it looked like they had their rivals pinned down.
But then, Mumbai&rsquo;s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, stepped up. Alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt, she weathered the storm, nudging singles and punishing loose deliveries. Their 89-run partnership turned the tide. Harmanpreet&rsquo;s calculated aggression, combined with Sciver-Brunt&rsquo;s calmness, helped Mumbai post a competitive total of 149/7. Delhi&rsquo;s bowlers had done well, but the feeling in the camp was clear&mdash;this was far from an easy chase.
<h2>Delhi&rsquo;s shaky start</h2>
Chasing 150 in a high-pressure final, Delhi needed a solid start. But what they got was the exact opposite.&nbsp;Shafali Verma fell in the very first over, trying to take on Saika Ishaque but mistiming her shot straight to mid-off. Meg Lanning, the pillar of Delhi&rsquo;s batting, looked determined to anchor the innings, but she too was undone by Amelia Kerr&rsquo;s sharp turn, trapped in front for 17. The scoreboard read 44/4, and the Capitals were sinking fast.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp tried to steady the ship, stitching together a fighting stand. Kapp played some crisp strokes, and Jemimah rotated the strike well, keeping the hopes alive. But just as the partnership was gaining momentum, Nat Sciver-Brunt returned to break it, removing Rodrigues for 30.
With 28 needed off the last two overs, the pressure was immense. Kapp fought hard, hitting a couple of boundaries, but the task proved too steep. Delhi fell agonisingly short, finishing at 141/8&mdash;just eight runs away from glory.
As the Mumbai Indians celebrated their back-to-back WPL titles, Meg Lanning stood motionless at the dugout, her eyes reflecting a mix of disappointment and disbelief. She had led from the front all season, yet the trophy continued to elude her team.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s tough,&rdquo; she admitted later in the press conference. &ldquo;We fought hard, but we didn&rsquo;t execute well in key moments. Credit to Mumbai, they held their nerve when it mattered most.&rdquo;
For Delhi Capitals, this was their third straight loss in a WPL final. The pain of coming so close, yet falling short once again, was evident on every player&rsquo;s face. They had given it their all, but destiny had other plans.
As the dust settled on another dramatic final, one thing was clear&mdash;Delhi Capitals would be back, hungrier than ever. But for now, the night belonged to Mumbai, and Meg Lanning was left to ponder what might have been.

Sports, Cricket: For the second consecutive season, Meg Lanning led the Delhi Capitals to the WPL final, only to see her team falter when it mattered the most

Meg Lanning’s emotions were on full display as the final of the Women's Premier League slipped away from her team. A tear welled up in her eye, a fleeting moment of heartbreak after coming so close to victory. But as soon as the camera turned to her, she quickly wiped it away, replacing it with a composed smile. It was a brief yet powerful glimpse into the mindset of a champion—someone who feels the pain of defeat but chooses to face it with grace and dignity. Meg Lanning has nothing left to prove. She is, without a doubt, one of the greatest captains in cricket history. A six-time ICC trophy-winning leader, she has steered Australia to five T20 World Cup titles (2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023) and an ODI World Cup triumph in 2022. Add to that a Commonwealth Games gold medal (2022) and multiple domestic trophies, and you get a cricketer whose name is synonymous with success. Also Read: NZ vs PAK T20 series: Black Caps romp to nine-wicket win in first match Yet, despite all her achievements, there is one trophy that continues to slip through her fingers—the Women’s Premier League (WPL). For the third consecutive season, Lanning led the Delhi Capitals to the final, only to see her team falter when it mattered the most. How Delhi Capitals fell short in final The night was set for a grand showdown. Under the bright lights of the Brabourne Stadium, Meg Lanning led her Delhi Capitals onto the field, determined to end their finals curse. Facing them were the defending champions from the first season, Mumbai Indians, led by the ever-composed Harmanpreet Kaur. It was a battle of two of the fiercest teams in the Women's Premier League, but as the night unfolded, it turned into yet another heartbreak for Delhi. Meg Lanning won the toss and put Mumbai into bat, trusting her bowlers to give them an edge. Her decision seemed justified early on when Marizanne Kapp struck twice in the powerplay, reducing Mumbai to 29/2. The Capitals' bowlers were on fire, and for a moment, it looked like they had their rivals pinned down. But then, Mumbai’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, stepped up. Alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt, she weathered the storm, nudging singles and punishing loose deliveries. Their 89-run partnership turned the tide. Harmanpreet’s calculated aggression, combined with Sciver-Brunt’s calmness, helped Mumbai post a competitive total of 149/7. Delhi’s bowlers had done well, but the feeling in the camp was clear—this was far from an easy chase. Delhi’s shaky start Chasing 150 in a high-pressure final, Delhi needed a solid start. But what they got was the exact opposite. Shafali Verma fell in the very first over, trying to take on Saika Ishaque but mistiming her shot straight to mid-off. Meg Lanning, the pillar of Delhi’s batting, looked determined to anchor the innings, but she too was undone by Amelia Kerr’s sharp turn, trapped in front for 17. The scoreboard read 44/4, and the Capitals were sinking fast. Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp tried to steady the ship, stitching together a fighting stand. Kapp played some crisp strokes, and Jemimah rotated the strike well, keeping the hopes alive. But just as the partnership was gaining momentum, Nat Sciver-Brunt returned to break it, removing Rodrigues for 30. With 28 needed off the last two overs, the pressure was immense. Kapp fought hard, hitting a couple of boundaries, but the task proved too steep. Delhi fell agonisingly short, finishing at 141/8—just eight runs away from glory. As the Mumbai Indians celebrated their back-to-back WPL titles, Meg Lanning stood motionless at the dugout, her eyes reflecting a mix of disappointment and disbelief. She had led from the front all season, yet the trophy continued to elude her team. “It’s tough,” she admitted later in the press conference. “We fought hard, but we didn’t execute well in key moments. Credit to Mumbai, they held their nerve when it mattered most.” For Delhi Capitals, this was their third straight loss in a WPL final. The pain of coming so close, yet falling short once again, was evident on every player’s face. They had given it their all, but destiny had other plans. As the dust settled on another dramatic final, one thing was clear—Delhi Capitals would be back, hungrier than ever. But for now, the night belonged to Mumbai, and Meg Lanning was left to ponder what might have been.

WPL 2025 | Meg Lanning: The champion who still waits for a WPL trophy

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