<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction:&nbsp;</strong>In a repeat of last season's Indian Premier League (IPL) final Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) will square off on Thursday (April 3) as they met at the Eden Gardens. The defending champions come into the contest on the back of a poor performance against Mumbai Indians (MI) while SunRisers were also defeated convincingly by Delhi Capitals on Sunday.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">KKR vs SRH Match Preview</span></strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">After facing an embarrassing defeat against Mumbai Indians on Monday (Mar 31), Kolkata Knight Riders KKR will look to get back to winning ways as they face SunRisers Hyderabad.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction MyPlaying 11</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Wicketkeepers:</strong> Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Batters:</strong> Ajinkya Rahane, Travis Head, Aniket Verma</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>All-Rounder: </strong>Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Bowlers:</strong> Varun Chakaravarthy, Pat Cummins</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>KKR vs SRH Head-to-Head Records</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Thursday's contest will be the 29th meeting between the sides as KKR hold the edge with 19 wins while SRH have won on nine other occasions.&nbsp;<strong></strong></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>3 Top Captain Or Vice-Captain Choices</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>1. Travis Head</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Travis Head is an aggressive batter at the top of the order and had a great season last time scoring 567 runs in 15 matches. He scored a half century in the opening match.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>2. Sunil Narine&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Sunil Narine is the MVP in a fantasy side. He will open the batting and is a quality off-sppiner. Back him to get points from both departments.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>3. Ishan Kishan</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Ishan Kishan scored a superb 100 against Rajasthan Royals in the opening match as provides a good deal for the Dream11.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-updated-points-table-indian-premier-league-rankings-standings-net-run-rate-8888780" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Updated IPL 2025 Points Table': Check points table, match results, NRR with wins, loss and other key details</a></strong></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>KKR vs SRH Fantasy Cricket Tips</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Ishan Kishan has been in great form for SRH so far, and could be a valuable addition to the side. We recommend him to be picked into the Dream11 side.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Kolkata Knight Riders vs SunRisers Hyderabad Team Analysis</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>KKR:</strong> Kolkata Knight Riders also have one win and two losses in three matches. They lost the previous match against Mumbai Indians as they were bowled out for 116 in the first innings. Both teams will be keen to put up a good performance and this promises to be a thrilling match.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>SRH: </strong>Sunrisers Hyderabad have one win and two losses in three matches. They started the season with a win over Rajasthan but have suffered big defeats in the previous two matches, which has dented their NRR. They will be keen to bounce back.&nbsp;</span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Eden Gardens Stadium Pitch Report</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The pitch at Eden Gardens is renowned for its batting-friendly conditions, where a quick outfield and short boundaries create the perfect setting for high-scoring encounters.</span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Suggested playing 11 No. 2 for KKR vs SRH Dream11 Fantasy Cricket</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Wicketkeeper:</strong> Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Batters: </strong>Travis Head (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Aniket Verma</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>All-Rounders: </strong>Sunil Narine (vc), Abhishek Sharma, K Nitesh Reddy</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Bowlers:</strong> Varun Chakravarthy, Pat Cummins</span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Match Prediction: Who Will Win KKR vs SRH?</span></strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Considering poor form of both SRH and KKR, we just about give edge to the away side as they have run-hungry batters like Travis Head and Ishan Kishan.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><em><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Disclaimer: </strong>The fantasy tips and facts expressed within this article are the author's personal opinions and WION does not promote or endorse any sort of betting activity. They do not reflect the views of WION. It is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn. WION does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.</span></em></p>

KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction: In a repeat of last season's Indian Premier League (IPL) final KKR and SRH will square off on Thursday (April 3) at the Eden Gardens.

KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction: In a repeat of last season's Indian Premier League (IPL) final Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) will square off on Thursday (April 3) as they met at the Eden Gardens. The defending champions come into the contest on the back of a poor performance against Mumbai Indians (MI) while SunRisers were also defeated convincingly by Delhi Capitals on Sunday. KKR vs SRH Match Preview After facing an embarrassing defeat against Mumbai Indians on Monday (Mar 31), Kolkata Knight Riders KKR will look to get back to winning ways as they face SunRisers Hyderabad. KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction MyPlaying 11 Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan Batters: Ajinkya Rahane, Travis Head, Aniket Verma All-Rounder: Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine Bowlers: Varun Chakaravarthy, Pat Cummins KKR vs SRH Head-to-Head Records Thursday's contest will be the 29th meeting between the sides as KKR hold the edge with 19 wins while SRH have won on nine other occasions. 3 Top Captain Or Vice-Captain Choices 1. Travis Head Travis Head is an aggressive batter at the top of the order and had a great season last time scoring 567 runs in 15 matches. He scored a half century in the opening match. 2. Sunil Narine Sunil Narine is the MVP in a fantasy side. He will open the batting and is a quality off-sppiner. Back him to get points from both departments. 3. Ishan Kishan Ishan Kishan scored a superb 100 against Rajasthan Royals in the opening match as provides a good deal for the Dream11. ALSO READ | 'Updated IPL 2025 Points Table': Check points table, match results, NRR with wins, loss and other key details KKR vs SRH Fantasy Cricket Tips Ishan Kishan has been in great form for SRH so far, and could be a valuable addition to the side. We recommend him to be picked into the Dream11 side. Kolkata Knight Riders vs SunRisers Hyderabad Team Analysis KKR: Kolkata Knight Riders also have one win and two losses in three matches. They lost the previous match against Mumbai Indians as they were bowled out for 116 in the first innings. Both teams will be keen to put up a good performance and this promises to be a thrilling match. SRH: Sunrisers Hyderabad have one win and two losses in three matches. They started the season with a win over Rajasthan but have suffered big defeats in the previous two matches, which has dented their NRR. They will be keen to bounce back. Eden Gardens Stadium Pitch Report The pitch at Eden Gardens is renowned for its batting-friendly conditions, where a quick outfield and short boundaries create the perfect setting for high-scoring encounters. Suggested playing 11 No. 2 for KKR vs SRH Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Wicketkeeper: Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock Batters: Travis Head (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Aniket Verma All-Rounders: Sunil Narine (vc), Abhishek Sharma, K Nitesh Reddy Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy, Pat Cummins Match Prediction: Who Will Win KKR vs SRH? Considering poor form of both SRH and KKR, we just about give edge to the away side as they have run-hungry batters like Travis Head and Ishan Kishan. Disclaimer: The fantasy tips and facts expressed within this article are the author's personal opinions and WION does not promote or endorse any sort of betting activity. They do not reflect the views of WION. It is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn. WION does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction: Check Team, captain and vice-captain picks for Kolkata Knight Riders vs SunRisers Hyderabad

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>LSG vs PBKS Match details: </strong>Lucknow Super Giants will be poised to win their second match in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) as they take on Punjab Kings on Tuesday (Apr 1). The contest in Lucknow will be LSG's first at home while PBKS will be in action after a week having last played on Mar 25.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">LSG vs PBKS Match Preview</span></strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Both teams have players with a point to prove, as Rishabh Pant and Ravi Bishnoi will look to make the most of their chances. Ahead of the clash between LSG and PBKS, here are all the key details of the IPL 2025 contest, including match time and venue.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>LSG vs PBKS Head-to-Head Records</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">LSG and PBKS have faced each other in 4 matches in IPL. Out of these 4 games, Lucknow have won three whereas Punjab have come out victorious on one instance.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>LSG vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction MyPlaying 11</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Wicketkeepers:</strong> Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Batters:</strong> Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Shashank Singh&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>All-Rounder: </strong>Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Bowlers:</strong> Yuzvendra Chahal, Shardul Thakur, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Ravi Bishnoi&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>3 Top Captain Or Vice-Captain Choices</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>1. Nicholas Pooran</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The West Indies power hitter and LSG dashing batter has been making bold headlines with his blistering performance. The left-handed batter has racked up an incredible 145 runs in the last two matches. One can look to have him as a captaincy pick considering his red-hot form.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>2. Shreyas Iyer&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Punjab Kings skipper made unbeaten 97 runs in the opening clash vs GT. The stylish right-handed batter is relishing playing at number three and aims to continue in the same vein. One must have him as a captaincy pick considering his red-hot form.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>3. Shardul Thakur</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Team India right-arm seamer has picked up six wickets in the last two matches. He will be expected to dominate in this clash.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-updated-points-table-indian-premier-league-rankings-standings-net-run-rate-8888780" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Updated IPL 2025 Points Table': Check points table, match results, NRR with wins, loss and other key details</a></strong></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>LSG vs PBKS Fantasy Cricket Tips</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As Rishabh Pant struggles for form, we would suggest to drop him while Shardul Thakur remains a good value for money pick.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings Team Analysis</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>LSG:</strong> Now in third place in the standings, the Lucknow Super Giants have played two matches in which they have won one. But their bowling has been crucial with the breakthroughs, and their batting lineup has shown great effectiveness as well.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>PBKS: </strong>Punjab Kings, currently at number five, have played only one game so far, winning it. The bowling attack has come good when needed, and their top-order batting lineup has shown strength.</span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Ekana Cricket Stadium Pitch Report</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The pitch at Ekana Stadium generally supports fast bowlers. In the IPL, teams usually prefer chasing, and this trend is expected to persist. A total above 180 runs is considered competitive on this surface, and the dew is not anticipated to have much impact on the game.</span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Suggested playing 11 No. 2 for LSG vs PBKS Dream11 Fantasy Cricket</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Wicketkeeper:</strong> Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Batters: </strong>David Miller, Aiden Markram, Abdul Samad, Shreyas Iyer</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>All-Rounders: </strong>Mitchell Marsh, Priyansh Arya, Shashank Singh</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Bowlers:</strong> Arshdeep Singh, Shardul Thakur</span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Match Prediction: Who Will Win LSG vs PBKS?</span></strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">We expect a tight contest in the IPL 2025 on Tuesday, however, counting on home advantage we predict Lucknow Super Giants to beat Punjab Kings.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><em><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Disclaimer: </strong>The fantasy tips and facts expressed within this article are the author's personal opinions and WION does not promote or endorse any sort of betting activity. They do not reflect the views of WION. It is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn. WION does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.</span></em></p>

LSG vs PBKS Dream11 prediction: LSG-PBKS have faced each other in 4 matches in IPL. Out of these games, Lucknow have won 3 whereas Punjab have come out victorious once.

LSG vs PBKS Match details: Lucknow Super Giants will be poised to win their second match in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) as they take on Punjab Kings on Tuesday (Apr 1). The contest in Lucknow will be LSG's first at home while PBKS will be in action after a week having last played on Mar 25. LSG vs PBKS Match Preview Both teams have players with a point to prove, as Rishabh Pant and Ravi Bishnoi will look to make the most of their chances. Ahead of the clash between LSG and PBKS, here are all the key details of the IPL 2025 contest, including match time and venue. LSG vs PBKS Head-to-Head Records LSG and PBKS have faced each other in 4 matches in IPL. Out of these 4 games, Lucknow have won three whereas Punjab have come out victorious on one instance. LSG vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction MyPlaying 11 Wicketkeepers: Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant Batters: Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Shashank Singh All-Rounder: Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Shardul Thakur, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Ravi Bishnoi 3 Top Captain Or Vice-Captain Choices 1. Nicholas Pooran The West Indies power hitter and LSG dashing batter has been making bold headlines with his blistering performance. The left-handed batter has racked up an incredible 145 runs in the last two matches. One can look to have him as a captaincy pick considering his red-hot form. 2. Shreyas Iyer Punjab Kings skipper made unbeaten 97 runs in the opening clash vs GT. The stylish right-handed batter is relishing playing at number three and aims to continue in the same vein. One must have him as a captaincy pick considering his red-hot form. 3. Shardul Thakur Team India right-arm seamer has picked up six wickets in the last two matches. He will be expected to dominate in this clash. ALSO READ | 'Updated IPL 2025 Points Table': Check points table, match results, NRR with wins, loss and other key details LSG vs PBKS Fantasy Cricket Tips As Rishabh Pant struggles for form, we would suggest to drop him while Shardul Thakur remains a good value for money pick. Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings Team Analysis LSG: Now in third place in the standings, the Lucknow Super Giants have played two matches in which they have won one. But their bowling has been crucial with the breakthroughs, and their batting lineup has shown great effectiveness as well. PBKS: Punjab Kings, currently at number five, have played only one game so far, winning it. The bowling attack has come good when needed, and their top-order batting lineup has shown strength. Ekana Cricket Stadium Pitch Report The pitch at Ekana Stadium generally supports fast bowlers. In the IPL, teams usually prefer chasing, and this trend is expected to persist. A total above 180 runs is considered competitive on this surface, and the dew is not anticipated to have much impact on the game. Suggested playing 11 No. 2 for LSG vs PBKS Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Wicketkeeper: Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant Batters: David Miller, Aiden Markram, Abdul Samad, Shreyas Iyer All-Rounders: Mitchell Marsh, Priyansh Arya, Shashank Singh Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Shardul Thakur Match Prediction: Who Will Win LSG vs PBKS? We expect a tight contest in the IPL 2025 on Tuesday, however, counting on home advantage we predict Lucknow Super Giants to beat Punjab Kings. Disclaimer: The fantasy tips and facts expressed within this article are the author's personal opinions and WION does not promote or endorse any sort of betting activity. They do not reflect the views of WION. It is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn. WION does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

LSG vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction: Check Team, captain and vice-captain picks for Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings

<p><strong>DC vs LSG IPL 2025 Live Streaming:</strong> Delhi Capitals (DC) will lock horns with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2025 on March 24. This match is set to be an exciting encounter as both teams will be looking to secure a crucial win in the tournament. DC will be keen to make the most of their home advantage, while LSG will look to continue their strong form with their dynamic squad.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In their last encounter in IPL 2024, DC managed to pull off a competitive performance, but they will need to perform better if they aim to defeat LSG. The battle of the two talented teams will be one to watch, with key players from both sides playing crucial roles.</p>
<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-battle-of-kings-vs-titans-iyers-punjab-takes-on-gills-gujarat-8884618" aria-label="IPL 2025 | Battle of Kings vs Titans: Iyer&rsquo;s Punjab takes on Gill&rsquo;s Gujarat">IPL 2025 | Battle of Kings vs Titans: Iyer&rsquo;s Punjab takes on Gill&rsquo;s Gujarat</a></p>
<h2>DC vs LSG IPL 2025: Live Streaming Details</h2>
<p>Here&rsquo;s everything you need to know about the live-streaming details for the DC vs LSG IPL match:</p>
<h2><strong>When is the DC vs LSG IPL match? Date</strong></h2>
<p>The DC vs LSG IPL match will be played on March 24, 2025.</p>
<h2><strong>Where is the DC vs LSG IPL match being played? &nbsp;</strong></h2>
<p>The match will be hosted at ACA&ndash;VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.</p>
<h2><strong>What time will the DC vs LSG IPL match start?&nbsp;</strong></h2>
<p>The DC vs LSG IPL match will commence at 07:30 PM IST.</p>
<h2><strong>Where can I watch the DC vs LSG IPL match in India on TV?</strong></h2>
<p>The live telecast of the DC vs LSG IPL match will be available on Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 1 HD).</p>
<h2><strong>How can I watch the DC vs LSG IPL match online? &nbsp;</strong></h2>
<p>The DC vs LSG IPL match will be available for live streaming on Jio Hotstar in India.</p>
<h2><strong>Delhi Capitals Probable Playing XI</strong></h2>
<p>Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul, Axar Patel (c/wk), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan</p>
<p>(Impact Sub: Karun Nair/Mohit Sharma)</p>
<h2><strong>Lucknow Super Giants Probable Playing XI</strong></h2>
<p>Arshin Kulkarni, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph&nbsp;</p>
<p>(Impact Sub: Akash Singh/Shahbaz Ahmed/Manimaran Siddarth)</p>

DC vs LSG Live Streaming: Delhi Capitals (DC) will take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on March 24, 2025, in a thrilling IPL clash, with both teams aiming for a crucial win

DC vs LSG IPL 2025 Live Streaming: Delhi Capitals (DC) will lock horns with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2025 on March 24. This match is set to be an exciting encounter as both teams will be looking to secure a crucial win in the tournament. DC will be keen to make the most of their home advantage, while LSG will look to continue their strong form with their dynamic squad. In their last encounter in IPL 2024, DC managed to pull off a competitive performance, but they will need to perform better if they aim to defeat LSG. The battle of the two talented teams will be one to watch, with key players from both sides playing crucial roles. Also read: IPL 2025 | Battle of Kings vs Titans: Iyer’s Punjab takes on Gill’s Gujarat DC vs LSG IPL 2025: Live Streaming Details Here’s everything you need to know about the live-streaming details for the DC vs LSG IPL match: When is the DC vs LSG IPL match? Date The DC vs LSG IPL match will be played on March 24, 2025. Where is the DC vs LSG IPL match being played? The match will be hosted at ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. What time will the DC vs LSG IPL match start? The DC vs LSG IPL match will commence at 07:30 PM IST. Where can I watch the DC vs LSG IPL match in India on TV? The live telecast of the DC vs LSG IPL match will be available on Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 1 HD). How can I watch the DC vs LSG IPL match online? The DC vs LSG IPL match will be available for live streaming on Jio Hotstar in India. Delhi Capitals Probable Playing XI Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul, Axar Patel (c/wk), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan (Impact Sub: Karun Nair/Mohit Sharma) Lucknow Super Giants Probable Playing XI Arshin Kulkarni, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph (Impact Sub: Akash Singh/Shahbaz Ahmed/Manimaran Siddarth)

DC vs LSG Live Streaming Online, Smart TV, Mobile App Check Match Details, and Probable Playing XIs

<p>Former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings">Chennai Super Kings</a> (CSK) captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/msd">MS Dhoni</a> has acknowledged the rapidly changing nature of T20 cricket, emphasising the importance of continuous adaptation to remain competitive. The wicketkeeper-batsman, known for his calm demeanor and strategic mindset, reflected on how the format has evolved over the years, requiring players to constantly refine their skills and approach.</p>
<p>Speaking about the impact of changing trends, Dhoni pointed out that modern T20 cricket demands not just power-hitting but also tactical awareness, fitness, and innovation. He noted that young players are bringing fresh energy and unconventional techniques to the game, making it essential for experienced cricketers to keep evolving.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dc-vs-lsg-live-streaming-online-smart-tv-mobile-app-check-match-details-and-probable-playing-xis-of-delhi-capitals-vs-lucknow-super-giants-ipl-match-8884797">DC vs LSG IPL 2025 Live Streaming: Check Match Details, and Probable Playing XIs</a></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;T20 cricket is always evolving, and as a player, I have to adapt and stay relevant. The game today is different from what it was a decade ago, with new strategies, aggressive batting styles, and a strong emphasis on fitness. To succeed, you have to keep learning and adjusting,&rdquo; Dhoni said.</p>
<p>Having led CSK to multiple <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl">IPL</a> titles, Dhoni remains one of the most influential figures in the league. While speculation continues about his future in the IPL, he remains focused on making valuable contributions to his team, whether as a mentor, leader, or player.</p>
<h2>'Bhojpuri commentary reminds me of old-school radio commentary'</h2>
<p>Expressing his views on regional language commentary for IPL, MS Dhoni said, "I haven't listened to regional language commentary much because when we watch live matches, replays are limited, and most of the commentary I hear is in English or Hindi. That helps us analyse the game better."</p>
<p>"I haven't heard a lot of regional commentary, but I know that Bihari (Bhojpuri) commentary is highly energetic. It reminds me of old-school radio commentary, where the commentators were very involved. I find that very interesting. Many people prefer to listen in their regional language&mdash;it&rsquo;s their mother tongue, and they want to experience the game in that way. I would love to hear Haryanvi commentary because it&rsquo;s quite unique," he added.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: Former CSK captain Dhoni pointed out that modern T20 cricket demands not just power-hitting but also tactical awareness, fitness, and innovation

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has acknowledged the rapidly changing nature of T20 cricket, emphasising the importance of continuous adaptation to remain competitive. The wicketkeeper-batsman, known for his calm demeanor and strategic mindset, reflected on how the format has evolved over the years, requiring players to constantly refine their skills and approach. Speaking about the impact of changing trends, Dhoni pointed out that modern T20 cricket demands not just power-hitting but also tactical awareness, fitness, and innovation. He noted that young players are bringing fresh energy and unconventional techniques to the game, making it essential for experienced cricketers to keep evolving. Also Read: DC vs LSG IPL 2025 Live Streaming: Check Match Details, and Probable Playing XIs “T20 cricket is always evolving, and as a player, I have to adapt and stay relevant. The game today is different from what it was a decade ago, with new strategies, aggressive batting styles, and a strong emphasis on fitness. To succeed, you have to keep learning and adjusting,” Dhoni said. Having led CSK to multiple IPL titles, Dhoni remains one of the most influential figures in the league. While speculation continues about his future in the IPL, he remains focused on making valuable contributions to his team, whether as a mentor, leader, or player. 'Bhojpuri commentary reminds me of old-school radio commentary' Expressing his views on regional language commentary for IPL, MS Dhoni said, "I haven't listened to regional language commentary much because when we watch live matches, replays are limited, and most of the commentary I hear is in English or Hindi. That helps us analyse the game better." "I haven't heard a lot of regional commentary, but I know that Bihari (Bhojpuri) commentary is highly energetic. It reminds me of old-school radio commentary, where the commentators were very involved. I find that very interesting. Many people prefer to listen in their regional language—it’s their mother tongue, and they want to experience the game in that way. I would love to hear Haryanvi commentary because it’s quite unique," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025 | 'I have to adapt and stay relevant', says Dhoni

<p>Cricket has long been a sport where talent meets opportunity, and Vignesh Puthur is the latest embodiment of that. The 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner from Malappuram, Kerala, made an immediate impact in his debut for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mumbai-indians">Mumbai Indians</a> in Indian Premier League 2025, leaving fans and cricketing experts in awe. With a spell of 3/32 against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings">Chennai Super Kings</a>, he not only justified the faith MI put in him but also demonstrated that raw talent, when nurtured correctly, can create magic on the biggest stage.</p>
<h2>Humble beginnings</h2>
<p>Vignesh Puthur's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Coming from a modest background, his father, Sunil Kumar, is an autorickshaw driver, and his mother, K.P. Bindu, is a homemaker. Growing up in Malappuram, cricket was more of a dream than a reality for Puthur. Financial constraints often posed challenges, but his passion and determination never wavered.</p>
<p>Despite the hardships, he moved from Malappuram to Thrissur in pursuit of his cricketing dreams. Initially a medium pacer until his college years, Puthur made a pivotal shift to spin bowling, and it turned out to be a game-changing decision. His ability to give the ball flight and deceive batters with his variations soon caught the attention of the cricketing fraternity.</p>
<p>While studying for a Master of Arts in Literature at St. Thomas College in Thrissur, Puthur honed his skills further, making a name for himself in Kerala&rsquo;s domestic circuits. His performances for the Alleppey Ripples in the inaugural Kerala Cricket League turned heads, and his stint in the Tamil Nadu Premier League further solidified his reputation as a promising spinner.</p>
<p>Mumbai Indians, known for their exceptional talent scouting system, took notice of Puthur during the Kerala Premier League. Recognising his potential, MI acquired him in the IPL 2025 auction for $35,000&mdash;a moment that changed his life forever. To ensure his growth as a bowler, the franchise even sent him to South Africa for the SA20 league, where he served as a net bowler for MI Cape Town. There, he trained alongside <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rashid-khan">Rashid Khan</a>, one of the finest wrist-spinners in the world, further refining his skills.</p>
<h2>IPL debut: A dream come true</h2>
<p>Vignesh Puthur made his IPL debut as an impact substitute, replacing none other than India&rsquo;s cricketing icon, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit Sharma</a>. Stepping onto the field for the first time in front of millions of fans, Puthur showed no signs of nerves. He delivered a spell that left even the most seasoned CSK batters struggling. His three crucial wickets included the prized scalps of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda.</p>
<p>For now, the spotlight is on Vignesh Puthur&mdash;the boy from Kerala who spun his way into IPL history.</p>

Cricket, Sports: With a spell of 3/32 vs CSK, Vignesh not only justified the faith MI put in him but also showed that talent, when nurtured correctly, can create magic

Cricket has long been a sport where talent meets opportunity, and Vignesh Puthur is the latest embodiment of that. The 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner from Malappuram, Kerala, made an immediate impact in his debut for Mumbai Indians in Indian Premier League 2025, leaving fans and cricketing experts in awe. With a spell of 3/32 against Chennai Super Kings, he not only justified the faith MI put in him but also demonstrated that raw talent, when nurtured correctly, can create magic on the biggest stage. Humble beginnings Vignesh Puthur's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Coming from a modest background, his father, Sunil Kumar, is an autorickshaw driver, and his mother, K.P. Bindu, is a homemaker. Growing up in Malappuram, cricket was more of a dream than a reality for Puthur. Financial constraints often posed challenges, but his passion and determination never wavered. Despite the hardships, he moved from Malappuram to Thrissur in pursuit of his cricketing dreams. Initially a medium pacer until his college years, Puthur made a pivotal shift to spin bowling, and it turned out to be a game-changing decision. His ability to give the ball flight and deceive batters with his variations soon caught the attention of the cricketing fraternity. While studying for a Master of Arts in Literature at St. Thomas College in Thrissur, Puthur honed his skills further, making a name for himself in Kerala’s domestic circuits. His performances for the Alleppey Ripples in the inaugural Kerala Cricket League turned heads, and his stint in the Tamil Nadu Premier League further solidified his reputation as a promising spinner. Mumbai Indians, known for their exceptional talent scouting system, took notice of Puthur during the Kerala Premier League. Recognising his potential, MI acquired him in the IPL 2025 auction for $35,000—a moment that changed his life forever. To ensure his growth as a bowler, the franchise even sent him to South Africa for the SA20 league, where he served as a net bowler for MI Cape Town. There, he trained alongside Rashid Khan, one of the finest wrist-spinners in the world, further refining his skills. IPL debut: A dream come true Vignesh Puthur made his IPL debut as an impact substitute, replacing none other than India’s cricketing icon, Rohit Sharma. Stepping onto the field for the first time in front of millions of fans, Puthur showed no signs of nerves. He delivered a spell that left even the most seasoned CSK batters struggling. His three crucial wickets included the prized scalps of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda. For now, the spotlight is on Vignesh Puthur—the boy from Kerala who spun his way into IPL history.

New spin wizard in town! Meet 24-year-old Vignesh Puthur, Mumbai Indians spinner from Kerala who impressed on IPL debut

<p>MS Dhoni's lightning-fast stumping left Noor Ahmad in awe during Chennai Super Kings' high-octane Indian Premier League 2025 clash against Mumbai Indians. The electrifying moment at Chepauk sent the crowd into a frenzy as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mahendra-singh-dhoni">Mahendra Singh Dhoni</a>'s brilliance behind the stumps turned the tide in CSK's favour.</p>
<p>The magic unfolded in the 11th over of MI's innings when stand-in skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/suryakumar-yadav">Suryakumar Yadav</a> stepped out to play an inside-out drive but misjudged Noor's delivery. Before he could react, Dhoni had already whipped off the bails with incredible speed, sending Surya back for 29 from 26 balls.</p>
<p>"The focus was on landing the ball in the right area, and Surya's wicket was special. MSD's stumping was out of this world. Having Mahi bhai behind the stumps is a huge support for me," Noor said at the post-match presentation.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-not-rachin-ravindra-mi-captain-suryakumar-yadav-says-this-player-who-took-game-away-from-them-8883668">IPL 2025: Not Rachin Ravindra, MI captain Suryakumar Yadav says THIS player who took game away from them</a></strong></p>
<p>Justifying his $116 million price tag, Noor spun a web around MI's batters, returning with stunning figures of 4/18 and earning the Player of the Match award. His spell choked MI&rsquo;s scoring, dismissing key batters one after another. Robin Minz found himself caught at long off, Tilak Varma fell victim to a deceptive googly, and Naman Dhir misjudged a sweep, losing his stumps.</p>
<p>Noor's heroics restricted MI to 155/9, a target CSK chased down comfortably. Rachin Ravindra (65 not out) and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (53) led the charge, sealing a commanding four-wicket victory for the five-time champions.</p>
<p>"It feels special to play in the IPL. I'm happy for the team and my contribution," Noor reflected after his match-winning performance.</p>
<h2 data-start="0" data-end="84"><strong data-start="0" data-end="82">'Noor Ahmad is an X-factor'</strong></h2>
<p data-start="86" data-end="387" class="">Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ruturaj-gaikwad" rel="dofollow">Ruturaj Gaikwad</a> praised spinner Noor Ahmad as the team's 'X factor' after their hard-fought four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians. However, he admitted they could have been more clinical with the bat.</p>
<p data-start="540" data-end="877" class="">Speaking at the post-match presentation, Gaikwad expressed his satisfaction with the win while acknowledging areas for improvement. "Happy to be on the winning side. We would have liked to be more clinical, but that&rsquo;s how the game goes. Batting at No. 3 is a team requirement, and I am happy to adjust for the team&rsquo;s balance," he said.</p>
<p data-start="879" data-end="1159" class="">Gaikwad also highlighted the impact of CSK's spin attack. "Right after the auction, we were excited about having all three spinners bowling in tandem at Chepauk. Khaleel Ahmed brings experience, Noor is an X factor, and having Ravichandran Ashwin is a huge plus for us."</p>
<p data-start="1161" data-end="1267" class="">He also provided an update on MS Dhoni, saying, "He is fitter than ever this year and still looks young."</p>
<p data-start="1161" data-end="1267" class=""><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: The magic unfolded in the 11th over of MI's innings when Suryakumar Yadav stepped out to play an inside-out drive but misjudged Noor's delivery

MS Dhoni's lightning-fast stumping left Noor Ahmad in awe during Chennai Super Kings' high-octane Indian Premier League 2025 clash against Mumbai Indians. The electrifying moment at Chepauk sent the crowd into a frenzy as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's brilliance behind the stumps turned the tide in CSK's favour. The magic unfolded in the 11th over of MI's innings when stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav stepped out to play an inside-out drive but misjudged Noor's delivery. Before he could react, Dhoni had already whipped off the bails with incredible speed, sending Surya back for 29 from 26 balls. "The focus was on landing the ball in the right area, and Surya's wicket was special. MSD's stumping was out of this world. Having Mahi bhai behind the stumps is a huge support for me," Noor said at the post-match presentation. Also Read: IPL 2025: Not Rachin Ravindra, MI captain Suryakumar Yadav says THIS player who took game away from them Justifying his $116 million price tag, Noor spun a web around MI's batters, returning with stunning figures of 4/18 and earning the Player of the Match award. His spell choked MI’s scoring, dismissing key batters one after another. Robin Minz found himself caught at long off, Tilak Varma fell victim to a deceptive googly, and Naman Dhir misjudged a sweep, losing his stumps. Noor's heroics restricted MI to 155/9, a target CSK chased down comfortably. Rachin Ravindra (65 not out) and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (53) led the charge, sealing a commanding four-wicket victory for the five-time champions. "It feels special to play in the IPL. I'm happy for the team and my contribution," Noor reflected after his match-winning performance. 'Noor Ahmad is an X-factor' Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad praised spinner Noor Ahmad as the team's 'X factor' after their hard-fought four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians. However, he admitted they could have been more clinical with the bat. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Gaikwad expressed his satisfaction with the win while acknowledging areas for improvement. "Happy to be on the winning side. We would have liked to be more clinical, but that’s how the game goes. Batting at No. 3 is a team requirement, and I am happy to adjust for the team’s balance," he said. Gaikwad also highlighted the impact of CSK's spin attack. "Right after the auction, we were excited about having all three spinners bowling in tandem at Chepauk. Khaleel Ahmed brings experience, Noor is an X factor, and having Ravichandran Ashwin is a huge plus for us." He also provided an update on MS Dhoni, saying, "He is fitter than ever this year and still looks young." (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Noor Ahmad in awe of MS Dhoni's 'out of world' stumping of Suryakumar Yadav

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<p>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;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p>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;</p>
<h2>Rapid fire with Rajesh Sharma:&nbsp;</h2>
<p><strong>Chennai Super Kings or Delhi Capitals-</strong>Delhi&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>All-time favorite cricketer-</strong>Mohammad Azharuddin&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>If you could swap places with a cricketer for a day-</strong>Kapil Dev&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Cricketer biopic you'd like to star in-</strong>Virat Kohli&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Who would you spend more time with, Dhoni or Kohli-</strong>Dhoni&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Your IPL 2025 winner prediction-</strong> Kolkata Knight Riders</p>

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

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lucknow-super-giants">​Lucknow Super Giants</a> (LSG) have faced significant backlash just days before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season due to a controversial social media post featuring South African cricketer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/david-miller">David Miller</a>. In the video, Miller is asked to rank his most heartbreaking cricket defeats, including losses in IPL finals and the T20 World Cup 2024 final. This content has been widely criticised by fans as insensitive and exploitative.​</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-head-coach-andy-flower-confident-but-can-rcbs-spinners-silence-the-critics-8879007">IPL 2025 | Head coach Andy Flower confident, but can RCB&rsquo;s spinners silence the critics?</a></strong></p>
<p>One user expressed, "This franchise has crossed the line by using a player's emotional struggles for clicks. This is exploitation, not entertainment." Another commented, "This is pathetic, to say the least. These are sacred emotions of grief and loss, which Miller has felt in the past." Some have even labeled LSG as "the worst IPL franchise, hands down." ​</p>
<h2><strong>Watch the video here:</strong></h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Manifesting zero heartbreaks for Miller bhai this season 🤞 <a href="https://t.co/4zd5FbtblW">pic.twitter.com/4zd5FbtblW</a></p>
&mdash; Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucknowIPL/status/1902702838397947977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>Despite the widespread criticism, the video remained online nearly a day after its release. David Miller, known for his explosive batting, was acquired by LSG for ₹7.5 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction. The franchise also made headlines by signing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a> for a record $313 million, making him the team's captain for the upcoming season. ​</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>How netizens reacted:&nbsp;</strong></li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">LSG content hitting new low. Funny thing is their cricket is gonna hit even further lows this season. Losing whatever fan base they built in their first couple of seasons <a href="https://t.co/Z9y8GpHX5z">https://t.co/Z9y8GpHX5z</a></p>
&mdash; Drax (@Draxulalala) <a href="https://twitter.com/Draxulalala/status/1902749029907509638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">How come its always this franchise who comes up with such garbage things.... Like why would you depress your star players asking such things instead of cheering them up with some fun contents <a href="https://t.co/HlYxgIUzSl">https://t.co/HlYxgIUzSl</a></p>
&mdash; arfan (@Im__Arfan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Im__Arfan/status/1902720032284758341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<p>The franchise has yet to address the controversy.</p>

Sports, Cricket: South Africa's David Miller, known for his explosive batting, was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for $87 million during the IPL 2025 mega auction

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have faced significant backlash just days before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season due to a controversial social media post featuring South African cricketer David Miller. In the video, Miller is asked to rank his most heartbreaking cricket defeats, including losses in IPL finals and the T20 World Cup 2024 final. This content has been widely criticised by fans as insensitive and exploitative. Also Read: IPL 2025 | Head coach Andy Flower confident, but can RCB’s spinners silence the critics? One user expressed, "This franchise has crossed the line by using a player's emotional struggles for clicks. This is exploitation, not entertainment." Another commented, "This is pathetic, to say the least. These are sacred emotions of grief and loss, which Miller has felt in the past." Some have even labeled LSG as "the worst IPL franchise, hands down." Watch the video here: Manifesting zero heartbreaks for Miller bhai this season 🤞 pic.twitter.com/4zd5FbtblW — Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 20, 2025 Despite the widespread criticism, the video remained online nearly a day after its release. David Miller, known for his explosive batting, was acquired by LSG for ₹7.5 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction. The franchise also made headlines by signing Rishabh Pant for a record $313 million, making him the team's captain for the upcoming season. How netizens reacted: LSG content hitting new low. Funny thing is their cricket is gonna hit even further lows this season. Losing whatever fan base they built in their first couple of seasons https://t.co/Z9y8GpHX5z — Drax (@Draxulalala) March 20, 2025 How come its always this franchise who comes up with such garbage things.... Like why would you depress your star players asking such things instead of cheering them up with some fun contents https://t.co/HlYxgIUzSl — arfan (@Im__Arfan) March 20, 2025 The franchise has yet to address the controversy.

IPL 2025 | Lucknow Super Giants trolled as 'worst IPL franchise' over viral social media clip

<p>As Virat Kohli steps onto the field for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league" rel="dofollow">Indian PremierLeague</a> (IPL) 2025 opener against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> (KKR) at Eden Gardens, he will mark a historic milestone&mdash;his 400th T20 match. This feat makes him only the third Indian cricketer to achieve this milestone, after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit Sharma</a> (448 matches) and Dinesh Karthik (412 matches).</p>
<p>Since making his T20 debut in 2008, Kohli has made 12,886 runs in 382 innings at an average of 41.43, with nine centuries and 97 fifties. He is not only India&rsquo;s highest run-scorer in T20s but also the sixth-highest globally.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/yuvraj-singhs-wife-hazel-keech-backs-bccis-family-time-rule-says-it-benefits-players-8878473">Yuvraj Singh's wife Hazel Keech backs BCCI&rsquo;s family time rule, says it benefits players</a></strong></p>
<p>However, this IPL season presents a new challenge. Having retired from T20Is last year after leading India to a World Cup victory with a match-winning knock in the final, Kohli now faces fresh scrutiny. His strike rate, adaptability against spin, and shot selection will be analysed as the T20 format continues evolving with more aggressive playstyles.</p>
<h2>A fresh approach in 2025?</h2>
<p>Kohli&rsquo;s hunt for an IPL title remains one of cricket&rsquo;s most compelling narratives. With 8,004 runs in 252 matches, including eight centuries and a record 973-run season in 2016, individual brilliance has yet to translate into championship success. This season, Kohli might look to re-invent his approach, taking more risks and adding a touch of unpredictability to his game.</p>
<p>His opening partner will also be different this time. Over the years, Kohli has shared the crease with Chris Gayle, Devdutt Padikkal, and Faf du Plessis. In 2025, he will pair up with England&rsquo;s explosive batter Phil Salt, a key figure in KKR&rsquo;s title-winning run last year. The two have already struck a good rapport, as seen in a recent RCB video where Salt described Kohli as a "chilled" and competitive character.</p>
<h2>The spin test: Kohli vs Chakravarthy &amp; Narine</h2>
<p>One of the most talked-about aspects of Kohli&rsquo;s T20 game has been his approach against spinners. Facing Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, two of KKR&rsquo;s most lethal weapons, will be a key test in the opening match.</p>
<p>Against Varun: Kohli has scored 40 runs off 39 balls (SR: 102.56), with just one dismissal.&nbsp;Against Narine: He has managed 162 runs in 157 balls (SR: 103.18), with four dismissals.</p>
<p>However, there were signs of evolution in IPL 2024. Kohli struck at 137.08 against spin, a significant improvement from his 113.38 in 2023 and 108 in 2022. His 15 sixes against spinners last season were the highest he had ever hit in an IPL campaign.</p>
<p>As the 2025 IPL unfolds, will we see a more adventurous Kohli against spin? Will he finally break the IPL title curse? As always, with Kohli, the season promises drama, intensity, and perhaps a few surprises.</p>

Sports, Cricket: Since making his T20 debut in 2008, Virat Kohli has made 12,886 runs in 382 innings at an average of 41.43, with nine centuries and 97 fifties

As Virat Kohli steps onto the field for the Indian PremierLeague (IPL) 2025 opener against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens, he will mark a historic milestone—his 400th T20 match. This feat makes him only the third Indian cricketer to achieve this milestone, after Rohit Sharma (448 matches) and Dinesh Karthik (412 matches). Since making his T20 debut in 2008, Kohli has made 12,886 runs in 382 innings at an average of 41.43, with nine centuries and 97 fifties. He is not only India’s highest run-scorer in T20s but also the sixth-highest globally. Also Read: Yuvraj Singh's wife Hazel Keech backs BCCI’s family time rule, says it benefits players However, this IPL season presents a new challenge. Having retired from T20Is last year after leading India to a World Cup victory with a match-winning knock in the final, Kohli now faces fresh scrutiny. His strike rate, adaptability against spin, and shot selection will be analysed as the T20 format continues evolving with more aggressive playstyles. A fresh approach in 2025? Kohli’s hunt for an IPL title remains one of cricket’s most compelling narratives. With 8,004 runs in 252 matches, including eight centuries and a record 973-run season in 2016, individual brilliance has yet to translate into championship success. This season, Kohli might look to re-invent his approach, taking more risks and adding a touch of unpredictability to his game. His opening partner will also be different this time. Over the years, Kohli has shared the crease with Chris Gayle, Devdutt Padikkal, and Faf du Plessis. In 2025, he will pair up with England’s explosive batter Phil Salt, a key figure in KKR’s title-winning run last year. The two have already struck a good rapport, as seen in a recent RCB video where Salt described Kohli as a "chilled" and competitive character. The spin test: Kohli vs Chakravarthy & Narine One of the most talked-about aspects of Kohli’s T20 game has been his approach against spinners. Facing Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, two of KKR’s most lethal weapons, will be a key test in the opening match. Against Varun: Kohli has scored 40 runs off 39 balls (SR: 102.56), with just one dismissal. Against Narine: He has managed 162 runs in 157 balls (SR: 103.18), with four dismissals. However, there were signs of evolution in IPL 2024. Kohli struck at 137.08 against spin, a significant improvement from his 113.38 in 2023 and 108 in 2022. His 15 sixes against spinners last season were the highest he had ever hit in an IPL campaign. As the 2025 IPL unfolds, will we see a more adventurous Kohli against spin? Will he finally break the IPL title curse? As always, with Kohli, the season promises drama, intensity, and perhaps a few surprises.

IPL 2025 | Virat Kohli’s 400th T20: New beginnings, old challenges, and hunt for glory

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>IPL 2025 opening ceremony, Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: </strong>The Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) is all set for kick off as 10 teams battle out on the biggest stage starting Saturday (Mar 22). While Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) raise the curtains for the IPL 2025, a host of star names will peform during the opening ceremony including Karan Aujla, Shreya Ghoshal and Disha Patani. So here are all the details of the opening ceremoy of IPL 2025 including date, time, performers, venue and live streaming.&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Get ready for the ultimate vibe check! 😎<br><br>Global Superstar Karan Aujla, is all set to light up the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> 18 Opening Ceremony, bringing the fire and setting new trends like never before! 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/GeetanDiMachine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeetanDiMachine</a> <a href="https://t.co/zRyGCRl8be">pic.twitter.com/zRyGCRl8be</a></p>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1902334236822319137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Where to watch the IPL 2025 opening ceremony on TV?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The IPL 2025 opening ceremony will be telecasted on Star Sports and Sports 18 Network in India.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Where to watch the IPL 2025 opening ceremony Live Streaming online on OTT?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The IPL 2025 opening ceremony will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Which stadium will host the IPL 2025 opening ceremony?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The IPL 2025 opening ceremony will be hosted at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, right before the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>What time will the IPL 2025 opening ceremony start?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The IPL 2025 opening ceremony is scheduled to start at 6:00 PM IST with host of star names performing.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Who will perform in the IPL 2025 opening ceremony?</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The IPL 2025 opening ceremony will have host of big Bollywood names performing including Karan Aujla, Shreya Ghoshal and Disha Patani. Few other names are also in rumoured to peform during the grand opening ceremony.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>When will the IPL 2025 KKR vs RCB contest start?</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The IPL 2025 KKR vs RCB contest will start at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday (Mar 22) with the toss taking place at 7:00 PM IST.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/speaking-exclusively-to-wions-aditya-pimpale-was-avni-aneja-co-founder-of-six5six-who-are-the-official-kits-manufacturers-of-kkr-in-ipl-2025-8870944" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025 Exclusive: Story behind Kolkata Knight Riders' new kit and how Shah Rukh Khan played a key role</a><br></strong></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB Squad</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Kolkata Knight Riders: </strong>Ajinkya Rahane (C), Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Luvnith Sisodia, Moeen Ali, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Mayank Markande, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Varun Chakaravarthy</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Royal Challengers Bengaluru:&nbsp;</strong>Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee</p>

Sports, Cricket, IPL: A host of star names will peform during the opening ceremony of the IPL 2025 including Karan Aujla, Shreya Ghoshal and Disha Patani.

IPL 2025 opening ceremony, Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: The Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) is all set for kick off as 10 teams battle out on the biggest stage starting Saturday (Mar 22). While Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) raise the curtains for the IPL 2025, a host of star names will peform during the opening ceremony including Karan Aujla, Shreya Ghoshal and Disha Patani. So here are all the details of the opening ceremoy of IPL 2025 including date, time, performers, venue and live streaming. Get ready for the ultimate vibe check! 😎 Global Superstar Karan Aujla, is all set to light up the #TATAIPL 18 Opening Ceremony, bringing the fire and setting new trends like never before! 🔥@GeetanDiMachine pic.twitter.com/zRyGCRl8be — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 19, 2025 Where to watch the IPL 2025 opening ceremony on TV? The IPL 2025 opening ceremony will be telecasted on Star Sports and Sports 18 Network in India. Where to watch the IPL 2025 opening ceremony Live Streaming online on OTT? The IPL 2025 opening ceremony will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Which stadium will host the IPL 2025 opening ceremony? The IPL 2025 opening ceremony will be hosted at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, right before the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match. What time will the IPL 2025 opening ceremony start? The IPL 2025 opening ceremony is scheduled to start at 6:00 PM IST with host of star names performing. Who will perform in the IPL 2025 opening ceremony? The IPL 2025 opening ceremony will have host of big Bollywood names performing including Karan Aujla, Shreya Ghoshal and Disha Patani. Few other names are also in rumoured to peform during the grand opening ceremony. When will the IPL 2025 KKR vs RCB contest start? The IPL 2025 KKR vs RCB contest will start at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday (Mar 22) with the toss taking place at 7:00 PM IST. ALSO READ | IPL 2025 Exclusive: Story behind Kolkata Knight Riders' new kit and how Shah Rukh Khan played a key role IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB Squad Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Luvnith Sisodia, Moeen Ali, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Mayank Markande, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Varun Chakaravarthy Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee

IPL 2025 Opening Ceremony: Check Date, Time, Performers, Venue, How to Watch Live Streaming

<p data-start="80" data-end="638">Sports careers can take fascinating turns, and Tanmay Srivastava&rsquo;s journey is a testament to that. While <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a>, who led India to victory in the 2008 ICC U19 World Cup, went on to become one of the finest batters in cricket history, many of his teammates from that squad did not find the same level of success in their playing careers. As Kohli gears up for the 2025 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) season with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bangalore">Royal Challengers Bengaluru</a> (RCB), his former U19 teammate Tanmay Srivastava is set to begin a new chapter&mdash;as an umpire in the very same league.</p>
<p data-start="640" data-end="946">According to a report in the Times of India, Tanmay, now 35, has secured an umpiring role in the IPL. Interestingly, he was India's highest run-scorer in the final of the 2008 U19 World Cup. His early promise earned him a contract with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a>, but his playing career did not take off as expected.</p>
<p data-start="948" data-end="1167">"I realised that was the best player I could be," Tanmay was quoted saying to TOI. "I was nowhere close to playing in the IPL. I had to decide whether to prolong my playing career or start a longer, more successful second innings."</p>
<p data-start="948" data-end="1167"><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/exclusive-ipl-2025-hopefully-i-can-be-half-the-player-he-was-delhi-capitals-tristan-stubbs-on-praise-from-ab-de-villiers-8869899">Exclusive | IPL 2025: 'Hopefully, I can be half the player he was&rsquo; &ndash; Delhi Capitals' Tristan Stubbs on praise from AB de Villiers</a></strong></p>
<p data-start="1169" data-end="1489">At 30, while still captaining the Uttarakhand team after previously representing Uttar Pradesh, Tanmay made the tough decision to step away from playing. Wanting to stay involved in cricket, he explored alternative roles. Although he has yet to be assigned an on-field umpiring position in the IPL, he remains hopeful.</p>
<p data-start="1169" data-end="1489"><strong>See the post here:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A true player never leaves the field&mdash;just changes the game. <br>Wishing Tanmay Srivastava the best as he dons a new hat with the same passion!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPCA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPCA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrideOfUP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrideOfUP</a> <a href="https://t.co/wrRoW31OG2">pic.twitter.com/wrRoW31OG2</a></p>
&mdash; UPCA (@UPCACricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/UPCACricket/status/1901614578997629222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p data-start="1491" data-end="1579">He still keeps in touch with Kohli and may cross paths with him during the tournament.&nbsp;"I&rsquo;m still in touch with Virat, but I had to make a practical decision for my future," he said.</p>
<p data-start="1680" data-end="1995">Seeking guidance, Tanmay approached Rajiv Shukla with his plans. "He was surprised because I was only 30 at the time. We discussed possible options. I completed my Level 2 coaching course at the NCA but realised the best I could become was a fielding coach. That&rsquo;s when I decided to pursue umpiring," he revealed.</p>
<h2 data-start="1680" data-end="1995">'Studying for umpiring is tough'</h2>
<p data-start="1997" data-end="2209">Determined to succeed in his new path, Tanmay studied rigorously for the umpiring exams while balancing other cricket-related roles, such as talent scouting for RCB and coaching at the National Cricket Academy.&nbsp;"Studying for umpiring is tough. I would stay up late at night, going through the laws and their applications," he explained.</p>
<p data-start="2340" data-end="2511">He also highlighted the growing emphasis on bringing younger former players into umpiring, rather than relying solely on older officials with only theoretical knowledge.&nbsp;"The board is encouraging young players to take up umpiring rather than depending too much on older people with bookish knowledge," he added.</p>
<p data-start="2658" data-end="2826" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Now, as the IPL 2025 season unfolds, Tanmay Srivastava is ready to embrace his new role, proving that the love for the game can lead to unexpected yet fulfilling paths.</p>

Sports, Cricket: Interestingly, he was India's highest run-scorer in the final of the 2008 U19 World Cup. His early promise earned him a contract with Punjab Kings

Sports careers can take fascinating turns, and Tanmay Srivastava’s journey is a testament to that. While Virat Kohli, who led India to victory in the 2008 ICC U19 World Cup, went on to become one of the finest batters in cricket history, many of his teammates from that squad did not find the same level of success in their playing careers. As Kohli gears up for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), his former U19 teammate Tanmay Srivastava is set to begin a new chapter—as an umpire in the very same league. According to a report in the Times of India, Tanmay, now 35, has secured an umpiring role in the IPL. Interestingly, he was India's highest run-scorer in the final of the 2008 U19 World Cup. His early promise earned him a contract with Punjab Kings, but his playing career did not take off as expected. "I realised that was the best player I could be," Tanmay was quoted saying to TOI. "I was nowhere close to playing in the IPL. I had to decide whether to prolong my playing career or start a longer, more successful second innings." Also Read: Exclusive | IPL 2025: 'Hopefully, I can be half the player he was’ – Delhi Capitals' Tristan Stubbs on praise from AB de Villiers At 30, while still captaining the Uttarakhand team after previously representing Uttar Pradesh, Tanmay made the tough decision to step away from playing. Wanting to stay involved in cricket, he explored alternative roles. Although he has yet to be assigned an on-field umpiring position in the IPL, he remains hopeful. See the post here: A true player never leaves the field—just changes the game. Wishing Tanmay Srivastava the best as he dons a new hat with the same passion!#UPCA #IPL #UP #PrideOfUP pic.twitter.com/wrRoW31OG2 — UPCA (@UPCACricket) March 17, 2025 He still keeps in touch with Kohli and may cross paths with him during the tournament. "I’m still in touch with Virat, but I had to make a practical decision for my future," he said. Seeking guidance, Tanmay approached Rajiv Shukla with his plans. "He was surprised because I was only 30 at the time. We discussed possible options. I completed my Level 2 coaching course at the NCA but realised the best I could become was a fielding coach. That’s when I decided to pursue umpiring," he revealed. 'Studying for umpiring is tough' Determined to succeed in his new path, Tanmay studied rigorously for the umpiring exams while balancing other cricket-related roles, such as talent scouting for RCB and coaching at the National Cricket Academy. "Studying for umpiring is tough. I would stay up late at night, going through the laws and their applications," he explained. He also highlighted the growing emphasis on bringing younger former players into umpiring, rather than relying solely on older officials with only theoretical knowledge. "The board is encouraging young players to take up umpiring rather than depending too much on older people with bookish knowledge," he added. Now, as the IPL 2025 season unfolds, Tanmay Srivastava is ready to embrace his new role, proving that the love for the game can lead to unexpected yet fulfilling paths.

IPL 2025 | Once a teammate of Virat Kohli in U19 World Cup, Tanmay Srivastava now joins IPL as umpire

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The countdown for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season has already started with the season to kick off on Saturday (Mar 22) as defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Eden Gardens. However, the eyes of the fans will be on the big game between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) as they face off in the battle of the heavyweights. So here&rsquo;s a detailed insight into how you can buy tickets for the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When will ticket sales open for CSK vs MI in IPL 2025?<o:p></o:p></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Tickets for CSK vs MI can be booked online from March 19 (Wednesday) from 10:15 am IST.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How to book tickets for CSK vs MI in IPL 2025?<o:p></o:p></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Tickets for CSK vs MI in IPL 2025 can be booked online on District (district.in).</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What are the ticket prices for CSK vs MI in IPL 2025?<o:p></o:p></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The ticket prices range from Rs 1,700 ($19.65) to Rs 7,500 ($86.69) depending on the stand selected.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When is CSK vs MI in IPL 2025?<o:p></o:p></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 will take place on March 23 (Sunday) at 7:30 pm IST.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Where will CSK vs MI in IPL 2025 be played?<o:p></o:p></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">CSK vs MI will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When will the toss take place in CSK vs MI in IPL 2025 be played?<o:p></o:p></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The toss will take place at 7:00 PM IST with the CSK vs MI in IPL 2025 match starting at 7:30 PM IST.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-kkr-vs-lsg-on-april-6-likely-to-be-rescheduled-due-to-security-concerns-8867263" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025: KKR vs LSG on April 6 likely to be rescheduled due to security concerns</a></strong></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Squads<o:p></o:p></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chennai Super Kings:</b> Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni (wk), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Nathan Ellis, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, C Andre Siddarth, Vansh Bedi, Shaik Rasheed, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary, Kamlesh Nagarkoti.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mumbai Indians:</b> Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Robin Minz, Naman Dhir, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Krishnan Shrijith, Raj Bawa, S Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Corbin Bosch, Vignesh Puthur.</p>

Sports, Cricket, IPL: The eyes of the fans will be on the big game between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) as they face off on Sunday (Mar 23).

The countdown for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season has already started with the season to kick off on Saturday (Mar 22) as defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Eden Gardens. However, the eyes of the fans will be on the big game between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) as they face off in the battle of the heavyweights. So here’s a detailed insight into how you can buy tickets for the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. When will ticket sales open for CSK vs MI in IPL 2025? Tickets for CSK vs MI can be booked online from March 19 (Wednesday) from 10:15 am IST. How to book tickets for CSK vs MI in IPL 2025? Tickets for CSK vs MI in IPL 2025 can be booked online on District (district.in). What are the ticket prices for CSK vs MI in IPL 2025? The ticket prices range from Rs 1,700 ($19.65) to Rs 7,500 ($86.69) depending on the stand selected. When is CSK vs MI in IPL 2025? Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 will take place on March 23 (Sunday) at 7:30 pm IST. Where will CSK vs MI in IPL 2025 be played? CSK vs MI will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. When will the toss take place in CSK vs MI in IPL 2025 be played? The toss will take place at 7:00 PM IST with the CSK vs MI in IPL 2025 match starting at 7:30 PM IST. ALSO READ | IPL 2025: KKR vs LSG on April 6 likely to be rescheduled due to security concerns Squads Chennai Super Kings: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni (wk), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Nathan Ellis, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, C Andre Siddarth, Vansh Bedi, Shaik Rasheed, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary, Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Robin Minz, Naman Dhir, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Krishnan Shrijith, Raj Bawa, S Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Corbin Bosch, Vignesh Puthur.

How to buy CSK vs MI IPL tickets: Sale date, prices, and where to buy from Check Steps and other Key Details

<p>Ahead of the 2025 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) season, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a> emphasised the importance of being proactive in leadership. He shared that over the past two years, he has been learning how to enhance his captaincy skills and foster strong communication within the team.</p>
<p>Pant, who made history as the most expensive player in IPL auctions when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lucknow-super-giants">LSG</a> acquired him for $312 million, is determined to guide the franchise to its maiden title. Speaking in a video shared by Star on X, Pant highlighted the challenges of managing a team filled with experienced and international players.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-18-years-number-18-kohli-and-rcbs-championship-dreams-will-it-all-align-8865364">IPL 2025 | 18 years, number 18 (Kohli), and RCB&rsquo;s championship dreams &ndash; Will it all align?</a></strong></p>
<p>"I want to be proactive, and that&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;ve been working on over the last two years. The more you communicate with management and players, the stronger the bond becomes. It&rsquo;s crucial to establish a clear channel of communication so that everyone aligns with the same thought process," Pant said.</p>
<h2>'Communication is key'</h2>
<p>He acknowledged that captaincy in the IPL comes with its own complexities, especially when leading a squad with senior and international players. "One of the biggest challenges is how to effectively communicate with them so that everyone moves in the same direction," he added.</p>
<p>Pant also stressed upon the importance of allowing players the freedom to express themselves, aiming to create a positive team environment. "I want to build a space where players feel free to express themselves. It sounds simple, but making it a reality requires effort from everyone," he shared.</p>
<p>LSG will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals">Delhi Capitals</a>, Pant&rsquo;s former team, on Monday (March 24) at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. The franchise previously reached the playoffs in IPL 2022 and 2023 but was eliminated in the eliminator on both occasions. However, IPL 2024 saw them slip to a seventh-place finish in the table.</p>
<p>With Pant at the helm, Lucknow Super Giants will be looking to turn their fortunes around and contend for their first-ever IPL title.</p>

Sports, Cricket: Pant, who made history as the most expensive player in IPL auctions when LSG acquired him for $312 million, is determined to guide LS franchise to its first title

Ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant emphasised the importance of being proactive in leadership. He shared that over the past two years, he has been learning how to enhance his captaincy skills and foster strong communication within the team. Pant, who made history as the most expensive player in IPL auctions when LSG acquired him for $312 million, is determined to guide the franchise to its maiden title. Speaking in a video shared by Star on X, Pant highlighted the challenges of managing a team filled with experienced and international players. Also Read: IPL 2025 | 18 years, number 18 (Kohli), and RCB’s championship dreams – Will it all align? "I want to be proactive, and that’s something I’ve been working on over the last two years. The more you communicate with management and players, the stronger the bond becomes. It’s crucial to establish a clear channel of communication so that everyone aligns with the same thought process," Pant said. 'Communication is key' He acknowledged that captaincy in the IPL comes with its own complexities, especially when leading a squad with senior and international players. "One of the biggest challenges is how to effectively communicate with them so that everyone moves in the same direction," he added. Pant also stressed upon the importance of allowing players the freedom to express themselves, aiming to create a positive team environment. "I want to build a space where players feel free to express themselves. It sounds simple, but making it a reality requires effort from everyone," he shared. LSG will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Delhi Capitals, Pant’s former team, on Monday (March 24) at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. The franchise previously reached the playoffs in IPL 2022 and 2023 but was eliminated in the eliminator on both occasions. However, IPL 2024 saw them slip to a seventh-place finish in the table. With Pant at the helm, Lucknow Super Giants will be looking to turn their fortunes around and contend for their first-ever IPL title.

IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant aims to 'lead proactively' as Lucknow Super Giants gear up for season

<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<h2>'Feels great to be back in Delhi'</h2>
<p>Now, as he returns to Delhi Capitals, he spoke with gratitude and excitement about the new season.</p>
<p>&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;<br><br>His voice was steady, betraying no signs of frustration about the years spent waiting for another IPL chance.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>

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

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">England white-ball vice-captain Harry Brook is set to be banned for two years from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he opted out of Delhi Capitals. Brook for the second consecutive season opted out of the IPL after he was purchased by Delhi Capitals in the November auctions. The ban means he won&rsquo;t be available for selection in the upcoming seasons while DC now search for other options.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">England Cricketer Harry Brook has been banned from playing in the IPL for the next two years after he withdrew himself after being selected in the auction: IPL Official</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1900196016806318444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Harry Brook banned for two years</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">"England Cricketer Harry Brook has been banned from playing in the IPL for the next two years after he withdrew himself after being selected in the auction," a senior IPL official said as quoted by ANI.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As stated by the IPL governing council before the mega auctions in November, a player cannot withdrew from the upcoming season unless an independent body approves the same for any miscellaneous reason. For Brook his withdrawal was not approved by the IPL council, meaning he will have to sit out of the upcoming two seasons.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/aussie-t20i-skipper-mitchell-marsh-declared-fit-for-ipl-2025-after-missing-out-champions-trophy-with-injury-8849892" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury</a></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Brook has been in fine form for England and recently scored a brilliant triple hundred against Pakistan in the Test format. He played a key role in England&rsquo;s 2022 T20 World Cup win and has been an all-format player for Brendon McCullum&rsquo;s side. The fine form had also seen him get promoted to vice-captain&rsquo;s role.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">"I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL," Brook had said in a statement. "I apologise unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and their supporters."</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">"I love cricket. Ever since I was a young boy, I have dreamt of playing for my country, and I am extremely thankful to have the opportunity to play the game I love at this level,&rdquo; Brook added.</p>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The Champions Trophy 2025 has hit the ground running as eight teams compete for the first major International Cricket Council (ICC) title of 2025. India, South Africa and New Zealand have all got off to a comprehensive start as they look to add one more trophy to their cabinet. While the teams are in action at the big tournament, players and franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have already begun preparations for the upcoming season. Here is a detailed financial breakdown of IPL 2025 and the Champions Trophy and why the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is outsmarting the ICC.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>IPL vs Champions Trophy financial breakdown</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">On 14 Feb 2025, ICC announced a whopping 53 per cent increase in prize money for the Champions Trophy 2025 as the tournament will splurge a cash of $6.9 million. The winner of the Champions Trophy 2025 will earn $2.24 million while runners-up will receive $1.12 million. On the other hand, losing semi-finalists of the Champions Trophy 2025 will walk away with $560,000 each from the total prize pot of $6.9 million.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Comparing this to IPL 2025, Rishabh Pant (the most expensive player) was snapped by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a price tag of $3.1 million. This means the most expensive player in the IPL alone is pocketing more than the overall prize money earned by the winning team. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Breaking it down further, the current TV and broadcasting deals value one IPL match at an astonishing price of $13.6 million (INR 1.18 billion). This means one IPL match is valued at almost twice that of the entire price money of the Champions Trophy 2025.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-pak-champions-trophy-2025-all-you-need-to-know-check-live-streaming-head-to-head-stats-pitch-report-squad-8745841" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ind vs Pak Champions Trophy 2025: All you need to know, check Live streaming, Head to head, stats, pitch report, squad&nbsp;</a></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Prize money comparison</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">At the time of writing, the prize money for IPL 2025 was yet to be confirmed, but if it is compared to IPL 2024, ICC just about manages to topple the BCCI. However, if the prize money is amended then there will be only one winner in IPL. The BCCI set a total prize pool of INR 465 million ($5.4 million) for IPL 2024 as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious in the final match and received INR 200 million ($2.3 million) in prize money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Overall, the BCCI and the IPL have emerged as major players having dominated the financial side over the last two decades. &nbsp;</span></p>

Sports, Cricket: While the teams are raring to go in the big tournament, players and franchises in the IPL have already begun preparations for the upcoming season.

The Champions Trophy 2025 has hit the ground running as eight teams compete for the first major International Cricket Council (ICC) title of 2025. India, South Africa and New Zealand have all got off to a comprehensive start as they look to add one more trophy to their cabinet. While the teams are in action at the big tournament, players and franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have already begun preparations for the upcoming season. Here is a detailed financial breakdown of IPL 2025 and the Champions Trophy and why the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is outsmarting the ICC. IPL vs Champions Trophy financial breakdown On 14 Feb 2025, ICC announced a whopping 53 per cent increase in prize money for the Champions Trophy 2025 as the tournament will splurge a cash of $6.9 million. The winner of the Champions Trophy 2025 will earn $2.24 million while runners-up will receive $1.12 million. On the other hand, losing semi-finalists of the Champions Trophy 2025 will walk away with $560,000 each from the total prize pot of $6.9 million. Comparing this to IPL 2025, Rishabh Pant (the most expensive player) was snapped by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a price tag of $3.1 million. This means the most expensive player in the IPL alone is pocketing more than the overall prize money earned by the winning team. Breaking it down further, the current TV and broadcasting deals value one IPL match at an astonishing price of $13.6 million (INR 1.18 billion). This means one IPL match is valued at almost twice that of the entire price money of the Champions Trophy 2025. ALSO READ | Ind vs Pak Champions Trophy 2025: All you need to know, check Live streaming, Head to head, stats, pitch report, squad Prize money comparison At the time of writing, the prize money for IPL 2025 was yet to be confirmed, but if it is compared to IPL 2024, ICC just about manages to topple the BCCI. However, if the prize money is amended then there will be only one winner in IPL. The BCCI set a total prize pool of INR 465 million ($5.4 million) for IPL 2024 as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious in the final match and received INR 200 million ($2.3 million) in prize money. Overall, the BCCI and the IPL have emerged as major players having dominated the financial side over the last two decades.

IPL vs Champions Trophy: Here's how BCCI is outpowering ICC as major financial player in world cricket

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span>Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bangalore">Royal Challengers Bengaluru</a> (RCB) have been handed an intriguing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">IPL</a> 2025 schedule, featuring a mix of home-heavy fixtures towards the business end of the league phase. Defending champions <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> (KKR) will face RCB in the opening match at their home ground, Eden Gardens, on March 22.</span></p>
<p><span>Acknowledging that RCB finished strong in IPL 2024 under a similar scenario, Chopra pointed out that their final league game against KKR could pose a tough challenge. In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra analysed the schedule for multiple franchises, offering insights into potential advantages and obstacles.</span></p>
<p><span>For RCB, he noted that their campaign opens against KKR in Kolkata on March 22 and concludes with a reverse fixture against the same opponents in Bengaluru on May 17. Given that KKR dominated RCB in both encounters last season, Chopra suggested that facing them again at such crucial junctures could be a double-edged sword.</span></p>
<p><span>"It's interesting for Bengaluru. They have three of their last four and four of their last six games at home. They have more matches at home towards the back end. It used to be a problem earlier, but the last season made you understand that they are quite okay," he said.</span></p>
<p><span><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-pakistan-have-edge-over-india-due-to-says-former-pak-captain-8728817">Champions Trophy 2025: 'Pakistan have edge over India due to...', says former Pak captain</a></strong><br></span></p>
<p><span>However, he remained cautious about the KKR factor, reminding fans that the Kolkata-based franchise has had the upper hand in recent meetings. While RCB lost convincingly at home to KKR last year, they also fell short by just one run.</span></p>
<p><span>"They won the last few matches at home and they happened to qualify. So if we see last year's template, it just looks alright. However, it's interesting that they are starting against Kolkata and are also ending against Kolkata. That could be a tough game because their matches are tight and Kolkata beat them here," Chopra added.</span></p>
<p><span>Visakhapatnam and Guwahati will host two home matches each for Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) respectively, while Punjab Kings (PBKS) will play three home games in Dharamsala. KKR and DC are yet to announce their new captains for the IPL 2025 season. Meanwhile, RCB recently appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain, while Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant were previously announced as the new skippers of PBKS and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), respectively.</span></p>
<h2><span>'No home games in final phase might test KKR's resilience'</span></h2>
<p><span>Turning his attention to KKR, Chopra suggested that their only major hurdle could be playing their last two league-phase matches away from home. Despite a balanced schedule that sees them playing two home and two away games in cycles, the absence of home support in the final phase might test their resilience.</span></p>
<p><span>"It's interesting for Kolkata as well. They are playing two matches at home and then two matches away a few times, which I feel is a good thing. The only trouble for them is that their last two matches are not at home," he said.</span></p>
<p><span>While discussing other franchises, Chopra pointed out that Gujarat Titans (GT) seem to have an ideal run-in, with their first two and last two matches being played at home in Ahmedabad.</span></p>
<p><span>"The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/gujarat-titans">Gujarat Titans</a> are playing the first two at home and their last two also at home. Shubman Gill will score three fifties and a hundred in those matches. The matches are in Ahmedabad. So they will be in a good position. In case things go wrong, you have two matches at home in the end and you can turn the tide at that point in time," Chopra explained.</span></p>
<p><span>The Titans will kick off their campaign against PBKS and Mumbai Indians (MI) before concluding with home fixtures against LSG and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).</span></p>
<p><span>Another significant concern highlighted by Chopra was the inconsistent home venues for Rajasthan Royals (RR), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Punjab Kings (PBKS). He questioned Rajasthan&rsquo;s decision to start their home campaign in Guwahati instead of Jaipur, considering their poor record at the venue.</span></p>
<p><span>"Three teams, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings, have alternate venues, and I start wondering why you do that. Rajasthan are starting their campaign with away matches. They don't win in Guwahati. I think they have won one out of four games," he said.</span></p>
<p><span>"So why are you going there at the start? By the time you come to Jaipur, it would be April 13. Twenty-odd days would have passed and you wouldn't have come to your home. People in Jaipur don't know when their team will play in Rajasthan. It doesn't make sense," Chopra added.</span></p>
<p><span>Similarly, Delhi Capitals are set to play initial home matches in Visakhapatnam, a strategy Chopra found questionable despite their decent record at the venue. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings will conclude their home campaign in Dharamsala rather than Mullanpur, which Chopra felt could nullify their home advantage.</span></p>
<p><span>"Delhi are also starting with Vizag. They have performed decently in Vizag, but the same question that is there for Rajasthan applies to Delhi as well. Punjab are in a different boat altogether. Three of their last four matches are home games, and all three are in Dharamsala," he concluded.</span></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: Eden Gardens will host the season opener and final, alongside Qualifier 2, on May 23. Meanwhile, Hyderabad will host the two playoffs—Qualifier 1 and Eliminator

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been handed an intriguing IPL 2025 schedule, featuring a mix of home-heavy fixtures towards the business end of the league phase. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face RCB in the opening match at their home ground, Eden Gardens, on March 22. Acknowledging that RCB finished strong in IPL 2024 under a similar scenario, Chopra pointed out that their final league game against KKR could pose a tough challenge. In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra analysed the schedule for multiple franchises, offering insights into potential advantages and obstacles. For RCB, he noted that their campaign opens against KKR in Kolkata on March 22 and concludes with a reverse fixture against the same opponents in Bengaluru on May 17. Given that KKR dominated RCB in both encounters last season, Chopra suggested that facing them again at such crucial junctures could be a double-edged sword. "It's interesting for Bengaluru. They have three of their last four and four of their last six games at home. They have more matches at home towards the back end. It used to be a problem earlier, but the last season made you understand that they are quite okay," he said. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: 'Pakistan have edge over India due to...', says former Pak captain However, he remained cautious about the KKR factor, reminding fans that the Kolkata-based franchise has had the upper hand in recent meetings. While RCB lost convincingly at home to KKR last year, they also fell short by just one run. "They won the last few matches at home and they happened to qualify. So if we see last year's template, it just looks alright. However, it's interesting that they are starting against Kolkata and are also ending against Kolkata. That could be a tough game because their matches are tight and Kolkata beat them here," Chopra added. Visakhapatnam and Guwahati will host two home matches each for Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) respectively, while Punjab Kings (PBKS) will play three home games in Dharamsala. KKR and DC are yet to announce their new captains for the IPL 2025 season. Meanwhile, RCB recently appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain, while Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant were previously announced as the new skippers of PBKS and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), respectively. 'No home games in final phase might test KKR's resilience' Turning his attention to KKR, Chopra suggested that their only major hurdle could be playing their last two league-phase matches away from home. Despite a balanced schedule that sees them playing two home and two away games in cycles, the absence of home support in the final phase might test their resilience. "It's interesting for Kolkata as well. They are playing two matches at home and then two matches away a few times, which I feel is a good thing. The only trouble for them is that their last two matches are not at home," he said. While discussing other franchises, Chopra pointed out that Gujarat Titans (GT) seem to have an ideal run-in, with their first two and last two matches being played at home in Ahmedabad. "The Gujarat Titans are playing the first two at home and their last two also at home. Shubman Gill will score three fifties and a hundred in those matches. The matches are in Ahmedabad. So they will be in a good position. In case things go wrong, you have two matches at home in the end and you can turn the tide at that point in time," Chopra explained. The Titans will kick off their campaign against PBKS and Mumbai Indians (MI) before concluding with home fixtures against LSG and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Another significant concern highlighted by Chopra was the inconsistent home venues for Rajasthan Royals (RR), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Punjab Kings (PBKS). He questioned Rajasthan’s decision to start their home campaign in Guwahati instead of Jaipur, considering their poor record at the venue. "Three teams, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings, have alternate venues, and I start wondering why you do that. Rajasthan are starting their campaign with away matches. They don't win in Guwahati. I think they have won one out of four games," he said. "So why are you going there at the start? By the time you come to Jaipur, it would be April 13. Twenty-odd days would have passed and you wouldn't have come to your home. People in Jaipur don't know when their team will play in Rajasthan. It doesn't make sense," Chopra added. Similarly, Delhi Capitals are set to play initial home matches in Visakhapatnam, a strategy Chopra found questionable despite their decent record at the venue. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings will conclude their home campaign in Dharamsala rather than Mullanpur, which Chopra felt could nullify their home advantage. "Delhi are also starting with Vizag. They have performed decently in Vizag, but the same question that is there for Rajasthan applies to Delhi as well. Punjab are in a different boat altogether. Three of their last four matches are home games, and all three are in Dharamsala," he concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Former India player questions puzzling schedule for multiple franchises

<p>SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith calls the cash-rich <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league?page=79" rel="dofollow">Indian Premier League (IPL)</a> the leader of all franchise cricket worldwide. With countless T20-based leagues flooding the cricket calendar in the competition to stay ahead of each other, India&rsquo;s premier T20 tournament is head and shoulders ahead of everyone. However, Smith picked SA20 as the &lsquo;second-best&rsquo; franchise-based T20 league, ahead of the Big Bash and England's Vitality Blast.</p>
<p>He said with what the IPL has given to the cricket world since its inception in 2008, where Smith played for Rajasthan Royals &ndash; the inaugural winners, the newly-added SA20, which is into its third season, can only &lsquo;learn and improve&rsquo; with the IPL around.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/jasprit-bumrahs-champions-trophy-2025-future-to-be-decided-in-next-24-hours-report-8699005" rel="dofollow">Bumrah&rsquo;s Champions Trophy 2025 future to be decided in next 24 hours &ndash; Report</a></strong></p>
<p>Calling the IPL the undisputed king of franchise cricket, Smith acknowledged BCCI and the league&rsquo;s support in helping SA20 grow and improve.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"BCCI and IPL have been amazing in supporting us and guiding us in every decision we have made. IPL is the leader in franchise cricket by far, and we can only learn from them," Graeme Smith said in an exclusive chat with PTI Bhasha.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, recently-retired India keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik became the first from the country to play in the SA20 (this season), representing the Paarl Royals. His team, however, fell shy in the second qualifier, losing to the two-time champions, SunRisers Eastern Cape, in Centurion on Thursday (Feb 6).</p>
<p>Speaking on the prospects of more Indian players joining and playing the SA20, Smith expressed excitement to welcome those available.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"We always said that we have worked with the BCCI to see what their views are for the future. South African cricket loves Indian cricketers. It is always a highlight for us to watch the talent of the Indian team whenever they come here to play," Smith said.</p>
<p>"If the Indian players were available, we would love to have them here. But nothing of that sort is in the pipeline. We always have conversations and probably at the IPL time, I will be there in India. We have a very good relationship with them.</p>
<p>"I was lucky that I played a couple of years in the IPL. We won the first edition with Rajasthan Royals in 2008,&rdquo; he continued.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>IPL 2025 to begin on March 21</h2>
<p>The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League will get underway from March 21, however, the final schedule is yet to be out. Kolkata Knight Riders won the last edition, beating SunRisers Hyderabad in a lop-sided final by eight wickets.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Sports, Cricket: Calling the IPL the undisputed king of franchise cricket, Smith acknowledged BCCI and the league’s support in helping SA20 grow and improve. 

SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith calls the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) the leader of all franchise cricket worldwide. With countless T20-based leagues flooding the cricket calendar in the competition to stay ahead of each other, India’s premier T20 tournament is head and shoulders ahead of everyone. However, Smith picked SA20 as the ‘second-best’ franchise-based T20 league, ahead of the Big Bash and England's Vitality Blast. He said with what the IPL has given to the cricket world since its inception in 2008, where Smith played for Rajasthan Royals – the inaugural winners, the newly-added SA20, which is into its third season, can only ‘learn and improve’ with the IPL around. Also read | Bumrah’s Champions Trophy 2025 future to be decided in next 24 hours – Report Calling the IPL the undisputed king of franchise cricket, Smith acknowledged BCCI and the league’s support in helping SA20 grow and improve. "BCCI and IPL have been amazing in supporting us and guiding us in every decision we have made. IPL is the leader in franchise cricket by far, and we can only learn from them," Graeme Smith said in an exclusive chat with PTI Bhasha. Meanwhile, recently-retired India keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik became the first from the country to play in the SA20 (this season), representing the Paarl Royals. His team, however, fell shy in the second qualifier, losing to the two-time champions, SunRisers Eastern Cape, in Centurion on Thursday (Feb 6). Speaking on the prospects of more Indian players joining and playing the SA20, Smith expressed excitement to welcome those available. "We always said that we have worked with the BCCI to see what their views are for the future. South African cricket loves Indian cricketers. It is always a highlight for us to watch the talent of the Indian team whenever they come here to play," Smith said. "If the Indian players were available, we would love to have them here. But nothing of that sort is in the pipeline. We always have conversations and probably at the IPL time, I will be there in India. We have a very good relationship with them. "I was lucky that I played a couple of years in the IPL. We won the first edition with Rajasthan Royals in 2008,” he continued. IPL 2025 to begin on March 21 The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League will get underway from March 21, however, the final schedule is yet to be out. Kolkata Knight Riders won the last edition, beating SunRisers Hyderabad in a lop-sided final by eight wickets. (With inputs from agencies)

Graeme Smith calls cash-rich IPL the leader of franchise cricket, picks ‘second-best’ league

<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) star batter Nitish Reddy landed in trouble after a clip of his went viral, where many criticised him for taking a dig at legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni's technique. In a recent interaction, Reddy spoke about Dhoni and stated that while Dhoni has talent, he lacks 'technique'. This wasn't well received by Dhoni's ardent fans and many Chennai Super Kings (CSK) supporters also slammed Reddy for pointing fingers at the former Indian captain-keeper. Nonetheless, Reddy has now issued a clarification and schooled one and all to not 'spread negativity' without knowing what he exactly said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a viral video, Reddy said, "Dhoni has talent, in the sense that.... talent is there but the technique is not there. Dhoni doesn't have Virat Kohli's range of techniques." Now, the talented SRH batter -- who made heads turn in IPL 2024 with 303 runs and 13 wickets for runners-up SRH -- has defended his statement, saying the question was about skill or mindset and he chose Dhoni for his mindset, not technique.</p>

<p>Reddy wrote on his Instagram story, "I've always been a huge admirer of Mahi bhai. The question was about skill or mindset, which is the most important factor. I chose mindset, taking Dhoni bhai's example. I believe mindset is the most crucial factor in determining success."</p>

<p><img alt="Nitish Reddy clarification" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4b3c44bc-1ece-4087-b951-354f3d07e651" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Nitish%20Reddy.JPG" /></p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-namibia-beat-oman-in-super-over-thriller-hosts-west-indies-rally-to-win-against-png-728155">T20 World Cup: Namibia beat Oman in Super-Over thriller; hosts West Indies rally to win against PNG</a></strong></p>

<p>The 21-year-old, who won the Emerging Player of the Year in IPL 2024, added, "What I said in my previous interview was taken out of context, with few people cropping out the video. Let's not spread negativity without hearing the full story. Only Love, NKR."</p>

<p>Reddy even added a video of his conversation with Telugu actor Kartikeya Gummakonda, wherein he praised Dhoni's strength and gameplay. SRH batter had stated, "MS Dhoni's batting techniques is not at par with Virat Kohli, but he is a legend because he knows his strengths and game play. That's why he became a champion."</p>

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<p>From Reddy's above statement, it is clear that the youngster was lauding Dhoni for knowing his game strengths and succeeding, despite not having a compact technique like Virat Kohli, etc. During Dhoni's illustrious career, many former cricketers and experts pointed out that he has an unorthodox technique, however, often praised the keeper-batter for backing his strengths and finding ways to succeed at the highest level. Notably, he ended his international career with over 17,000 runs.</p>

<p>Dhoni-starrer CSK ended fifth in IPL 2024, missing out on a playoffs spot due to Net Run Rate (NRR).</p>


Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) star batter Nitish Reddy landed in trouble after a clip of his went viral, where many criticised him for taking a dig at legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni's technique.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) star batter Nitish Reddy landed in trouble after a clip of his went viral, where many criticised him for taking a dig at legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni's technique. In a recent interaction, Reddy spoke about Dhoni and stated that while Dhoni has talent, he lacks 'technique'. This wasn't well received by Dhoni's ardent fans and many Chennai Super Kings (CSK) supporters also slammed Reddy for pointing fingers at the former Indian captain-keeper. Nonetheless, Reddy has now issued a clarification and schooled one and all to not 'spread negativity' without knowing what he exactly said. In a viral video, Reddy said, "Dhoni has talent, in the sense that.... talent is there but the technique is not there. Dhoni doesn't have Virat Kohli's range of techniques." Now, the talented SRH batter -- who made heads turn in IPL 2024 with 303 runs and 13 wickets for runners-up SRH -- has defended his statement, saying the question was about skill or mindset and he chose Dhoni for his mindset, not technique. Reddy wrote on his Instagram story, "I've always been a huge admirer of Mahi bhai. The question was about skill or mindset, which is the most important factor. I chose mindset, taking Dhoni bhai's example. I believe mindset is the most crucial factor in determining success." Also read: T20 World Cup: Namibia beat Oman in Super-Over thriller; hosts West Indies rally to win against PNG The 21-year-old, who won the Emerging Player of the Year in IPL 2024, added, "What I said in my previous interview was taken out of context, with few people cropping out the video. Let's not spread negativity without hearing the full story. Only Love, NKR." Reddy even added a video of his conversation with Telugu actor Kartikeya Gummakonda, wherein he praised Dhoni's strength and gameplay. SRH batter had stated, "MS Dhoni's batting techniques is not at par with Virat Kohli, but he is a legend because he knows his strengths and game play. That's why he became a champion." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nitish Kumar Reddy Official (@nitish_kumar_reddy_official) × From Reddy's above statement, it is clear that the youngster was lauding Dhoni for knowing his game strengths and succeeding, despite not having a compact technique like Virat Kohli, etc. During Dhoni's illustrious career, many former cricketers and experts pointed out that he has an unorthodox technique, however, often praised the keeper-batter for backing his strengths and finding ways to succeed at the highest level. Notably, he ended his international career with over 17,000 runs. Dhoni-starrer CSK ended fifth in IPL 2024, missing out on a playoffs spot due to Net Run Rate (NRR).

'Let's not spread negativity...': SRH's Nitish Reddy reacts to viral 'MS Dhoni doesn't have technique' remark

<p><strong>Complete list of IPL winners:&nbsp;</strong>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) annihilated SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets to secure their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday (May 26). Led brilliantly by Shreyas Iyer, SRH were never allowed to be in the contest and eventually suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in IPL final history.&nbsp;</p>

<p>KKR became only the third team in IPL history to win the title on three or more occasions. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are the only two teams ahead of KKR, with each of them winning the title five times. The last time KKR won the title was in 2014 under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-mitchell-starc-venkatesh-iyer-star-as-kkr-beat-srh-to-win-third-title-725670"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: Mitchell Starc, Venkatesh Iyer star as KKR beat SRH to win third title</strong></a></p>

<p>Having endured a disappointing campaign last season, KKR management brought in Gambhir as the mentor and the results have been there to see. Gambhir alongside coach Chandrakant Pandit instilled a winning mentality yet again in the two-time champions who got over the line, having finished the league stage at the top of the points table.&nbsp;</p>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1.5">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td height="26"><strong>Year</strong></td>
			<td><strong>Winner</strong></td>
			<td><strong>Captain</strong></td>
			<td><strong>Number of IPL teams</strong></td>
			<td><strong>Orange Cap (Runs)</strong></td>
			<td><strong>Purple cap (Wickets)</strong></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2024">2024</td>
			<td>Kolkata Knight Riders</td>
			<td>Shreyas Iyer</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="10">10</td>
			<td>Virat Kohli (741)</td>
			<td>Harshal Patel (24)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2023">2023</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
			<td>MS Dhoni</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="10">10</td>
			<td>Shubman Gill (890)</td>
			<td>Mohammed Shami (28)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2022">2022</td>
			<td>Gujarat Titans</td>
			<td>Hardik Pandya</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="10">10</td>
			<td>Jos Buttler (863)</td>
			<td>Yuzvendra Chahal (27)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2021">2021</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
			<td>MS Dhoni</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>Ruturaj Gaikwad (635)</td>
			<td>Harshal Patel (32)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2020">2020</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td>Rohit Sharma</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>KL Rahul (670)</td>
			<td>Kagiso Rabada (30)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2019">2019</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td>Rohit Sharma</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>David Warner (692)</td>
			<td>Imran Tahir (26)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2018">2018</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
			<td>MS Dhoni</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>Kane Williamson (735)</td>
			<td>Andrew Tye (24)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2017">2017</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td>Rohit Sharma</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>David Warner (641)</td>
			<td>Bhuvneshwar Kumar (26)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2016">2016</td>
			<td>Sunrisers Hyderabad</td>
			<td>David Warner</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>Virat Kohli (973)</td>
			<td>Bhuvneshwar Kumar (23)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2015">2015</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td>Rohit Sharma</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>David Warner (562)</td>
			<td>Dwayne Bravo (26)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2014">2014</td>
			<td>Kolkata Knight Riders</td>
			<td>Gautam Gambhir</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>Robin Uthappa (660)</td>
			<td>Mohit Sharma (23)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2013">2013</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td>Rohit Sharma</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="9">9</td>
			<td>Michel Hussey (733)</td>
			<td>Dwayne Bravo (32)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2012">2012</td>
			<td>Kolkata Knight Riders</td>
			<td>Gautam Gambhir</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="9">9</td>
			<td>Chris Gayle (733)</td>
			<td>Morne Morkel (25)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2011">2011</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
			<td>MS Dhoni</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="10">10</td>
			<td>Chris Gayle (608)</td>
			<td>Lasith Malinga (28)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2010">2010</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
			<td>MS Dhoni</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>Sachin Tendulkar (618)</td>
			<td>Pragyan Ojha (21)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2009">2009</td>
			<td>Deccan Chargers</td>
			<td>Adam Gilchrist</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>Mathew Hayden (572)</td>
			<td>RP Singh (23)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td height="26" sdnum="16393;" sdval="2008">2008</td>
			<td>Rajasthan Royals</td>
			<td>Shane Warner</td>
			<td sdnum="16393;" sdval="8">8</td>
			<td>Shaun Marsh (616)</td>
			<td>Sohail Tanvir (22)</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>


Complete list of IPL winners: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) annihilated SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets to secure their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday (May 26).

Complete list of IPL winners: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) annihilated SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets to secure their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday (May 26). Led brilliantly by Shreyas Iyer, SRH were never allowed to be in the contest and eventually suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in IPL final history. KKR became only the third team in IPL history to win the title on three or more occasions. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are the only two teams ahead of KKR, with each of them winning the title five times. The last time KKR won the title was in 2014 under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir. Also read | IPL 2024: Mitchell Starc, Venkatesh Iyer star as KKR beat SRH to win third title Having endured a disappointing campaign last season, KKR management brought in Gambhir as the mentor and the results have been there to see. Gambhir alongside coach Chandrakant Pandit instilled a winning mentality yet again in the two-time champions who got over the line, having finished the league stage at the top of the points table. Year Winner Captain Number of IPL teams Orange Cap (Runs) Purple cap (Wickets) 2024 Kolkata Knight Riders Shreyas Iyer 10 Virat Kohli (741) Harshal Patel (24) 2023 Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni 10 Shubman Gill (890) Mohammed Shami (28) 2022 Gujarat Titans Hardik Pandya 10 Jos Buttler (863) Yuzvendra Chahal (27) 2021 Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni 8 Ruturaj Gaikwad (635) Harshal Patel (32) 2020 Mumbai Indians Rohit Sharma 8 KL Rahul (670) Kagiso Rabada (30) 2019 Mumbai Indians Rohit Sharma 8 David Warner (692) Imran Tahir (26) 2018 Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni 8 Kane Williamson (735) Andrew Tye (24) 2017 Mumbai Indians Rohit Sharma 8 David Warner (641) Bhuvneshwar Kumar (26) 2016 Sunrisers Hyderabad David Warner 8 Virat Kohli (973) Bhuvneshwar Kumar (23) 2015 Mumbai Indians Rohit Sharma 8 David Warner (562) Dwayne Bravo (26) 2014 Kolkata Knight Riders Gautam Gambhir 8 Robin Uthappa (660) Mohit Sharma (23) 2013 Mumbai Indians Rohit Sharma 9 Michel Hussey (733) Dwayne Bravo (32) 2012 Kolkata Knight Riders Gautam Gambhir 9 Chris Gayle (733) Morne Morkel (25) 2011 Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni 10 Chris Gayle (608) Lasith Malinga (28) 2010 Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni 8 Sachin Tendulkar (618) Pragyan Ojha (21) 2009 Deccan Chargers Adam Gilchrist 8 Mathew Hayden (572) RP Singh (23) 2008 Rajasthan Royals Shane Warner 8 Shaun Marsh (616) Sohail Tanvir (22)

Complete list of IPL winners, runner-ups, captains and orange cap winners in league’s history

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<p>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner and Bollywood&nbsp;superstar,&nbsp;Shah Rukh&nbsp;Khan,&nbsp;was apologetic as he accidentally interrupted a live post-match cricket show as he was taking a victory lap with his kids, Suhana and AbRam&nbsp;at&nbsp;the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>KKR cruised to the final after a convincing eight-wicket win over SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first qualifier on Tuesday (May 21) of the Indian Premier League (IPL). As the team celebrated reaching its fourth final in IPL history, Shah Rukh and his family led the lap of honour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A viral video clip showed that Shah Rukh, during the victory lap, accidentally stumbled onto the live broadcast by the JioCinema Hindi commentators.<br />
<br />
Former cricketers Aakash Chopra, Parthiv Patel and Suresh Raina were conducting the show when Shahrukh arrived&nbsp;on the scene.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Suhana spotted the live shoot and moved his brother to the side, Shah Rukh walked right&nbsp;in,&nbsp;before apologising with folded hands for interrupting the proceedings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the Bollywood star apologised, he&nbsp;made sure to hug&nbsp;all three of them and later apologised to the fans watching the broadcast before continuing the lap around the stadium.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Oh, what a man! Legend!"&nbsp;said Chopra after the happy accident.&nbsp;“He did not even realise that he walked into the show. He&nbsp;was very apologetic, but I said,&nbsp;'You made our day. You are the showstopper.”</p>

<p>"I spent a bit of time at KKR with him. I batted at No. 8 and also at No. 6 then. He was very supportive," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The former India opener also took to X to call Khan a legend.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH Shah Rukh's enderaing reaction to crashing the live show:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">SHAH RUKH KHAN... bas naam hi kaafi hai 🔥🔥💜💜💜 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvsSRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvsSRH</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZPipWNhFOF">pic.twitter.com/ZPipWNhFOF</a></p>
— Perfectly Imperfect 🤷🏻 (@abhicc225) <a href="https://twitter.com/abhicc225/status/1792978648758386799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">He’s an absolute legend. Lots of love and respect ✊ <a href="https://t.co/5AmR58xYW0">https://t.co/5AmR58xYW0</a></p>
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketaakash/status/1792999718546456842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-kkr-beat-srh-in-qualifier-one-by-eight-wickets-to-enter-final-724023"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: Bowlers, Venkatesh and Shreyas Iyer take KKR into final with dominating win over SRH</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>KKR continue scintillating form</strong></h2>

<p>Chasing a modest target of 160 in the qualifier, KKR hardly broke a sweat and won the match inside 14 overs as Venkatesh Iyer scored an unbeaten&nbsp;28-ball 51 while skipper Shreyas Iyer hit 58 not out off 24 balls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the match was beautifully set up by the bowlers, especially Mitchell Starc who justified why the KKR board had splurged a record-breaking sum on him during the previous auction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Starc sent destructive opener Travis Head back to the pavilion on the second ball of the match for a duck. SRH's innings took a downturn from there as&nbsp;Head's&nbsp;opening partner Abhishek Sharma was sent back in the next over as well.</p>

<p>SRH lost four wickets inside the powerplay and never really recovered from there despite useful contributions from Heinrich Klassen and skipper Pat Cummins down the order.&nbsp;</p>

<p>SRH, however, still have a chance to make it to the final in the second qualifier where they face the winner of the eliminator game between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner and Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, was apologetic as he accidentally interrupted a live post-match cricket show as he was taking a victory lap with his kids, Suhana and AbRam at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner and Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, was apologetic as he accidentally interrupted a live post-match cricket show as he was taking a victory lap with his kids, Suhana and AbRam at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. KKR cruised to the final after a convincing eight-wicket win over SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first qualifier on Tuesday (May 21) of the Indian Premier League (IPL). As the team celebrated reaching its fourth final in IPL history, Shah Rukh and his family led the lap of honour. A viral video clip showed that Shah Rukh, during the victory lap, accidentally stumbled onto the live broadcast by the JioCinema Hindi commentators. Former cricketers Aakash Chopra, Parthiv Patel and Suresh Raina were conducting the show when Shahrukh arrived on the scene. While Suhana spotted the live shoot and moved his brother to the side, Shah Rukh walked right in, before apologising with folded hands for interrupting the proceedings. As the Bollywood star apologised, he made sure to hug all three of them and later apologised to the fans watching the broadcast before continuing the lap around the stadium. "Oh, what a man! Legend!" said Chopra after the happy accident. “He did not even realise that he walked into the show. He was very apologetic, but I said, 'You made our day. You are the showstopper.” "I spent a bit of time at KKR with him. I batted at No. 8 and also at No. 6 then. He was very supportive," he added. The former India opener also took to X to call Khan a legend. WATCH Shah Rukh's enderaing reaction to crashing the live show: SHAH RUKH KHAN... bas naam hi kaafi hai 🔥🔥💜💜💜 #KKRvsSRH pic.twitter.com/ZPipWNhFOF — Perfectly Imperfect 🤷🏻 (@abhicc225) May 21, 2024 × He’s an absolute legend. Lots of love and respect ✊ https://t.co/5AmR58xYW0 — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 21, 2024 × Also read | IPL 2024: Bowlers, Venkatesh and Shreyas Iyer take KKR into final with dominating win over SRH KKR continue scintillating form Chasing a modest target of 160 in the qualifier, KKR hardly broke a sweat and won the match inside 14 overs as Venkatesh Iyer scored an unbeaten 28-ball 51 while skipper Shreyas Iyer hit 58 not out off 24 balls. However, the match was beautifully set up by the bowlers, especially Mitchell Starc who justified why the KKR board had splurged a record-breaking sum on him during the previous auction. Starc sent destructive opener Travis Head back to the pavilion on the second ball of the match for a duck. SRH's innings took a downturn from there as Head's opening partner Abhishek Sharma was sent back in the next over as well. SRH lost four wickets inside the powerplay and never really recovered from there despite useful contributions from Heinrich Klassen and skipper Pat Cummins down the order. SRH, however, still have a chance to make it to the final in the second qualifier where they face the winner of the eliminator game between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2024: Watch | Shah Rukh Khan's endearing apology after crashing post-match live show

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<p>Former India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain, Virat Kohli, has revealed his retirement plans, saying he would be away from the public limelight for a long time once he has decided to hang up his boots.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kohli, 35, is perhaps in the last stretch of his international career with many regarding the upcoming T20 World Cup as his last hurrah in the shortest format of the game. Quizzed during an RCB promotional event about his retirement and what fuels his insatiable hunger for excellence, the Indian batter gave a nuanced answer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's quite simple. I think as a sportsman, we do have an&nbsp;end-date&nbsp;to our careers. So I am just working backwards. I don't want to finish my career thinking 'oh, what if I have done this on that particular day' because I can't keep going on and on forever. So it's just about not leaving any undone business behind and not&nbsp;have&nbsp;any regrets later, which I am sure I won't," said Kohli.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Once I am done, I will be gone, you won't see me for a while (smiles). So I want to give it everything I have till the time I play, and that's the only thing that keeps me going," he added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">An evening celebrating friendships, brotherhood, comebacks and more, at the <a href="https://twitter.com/rcbbarcafe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rcbbarcafe</a>!<br />
<br />
Some behind the scenes visuals from the team dinner last night on <a href="https://twitter.com/bigbasket_com?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bigbasket_com</a> presents Bold Diaries.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%AE%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%AERCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ನಮ್ಮRCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/S0yC54UKby">pic.twitter.com/S0yC54UKby</a></p>
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1790953800150491171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-will-there-be-reserve-day-for-rcb-vs-csk-league-match-at-chinnaswamy-721832" target="_blank">Also read | IPL 2024: Will there be&nbsp;reserve&nbsp;day for RCB vs CSK league match at Chinnaswamy?</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Run machine Kohli</strong></h2>

<p>Despite being in his late thirties, Kohli is still able to give the youngsters&nbsp;run&nbsp;for their money in the fitness department. He currently leads the chart of&nbsp;top-scorers&nbsp;at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), having&nbsp;amasses&nbsp;661 runs in only 13 innings at an enviable&nbsp;strike-rate&nbsp;of 155.16.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kohli's relentless nature of getting stuck in and taking his team alongside him is probably the reason why RCB have managed to win five matches on the bounce to be in playoff contention after a horrid start to the campaign.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The weekend match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could be the decisive game of the tournament. If RCB do manage to get a win, they can qualify for the top 4 and challenge for the first trophy in the franchise's history.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Former India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain, Virat Kohli, has revealed his retirement plans, saying he would be away from the public limelight for a long time once he has decided to hang up his boots.

Former India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain, Virat Kohli, has revealed his retirement plans, saying he would be away from the public limelight for a long time once he has decided to hang up his boots. Kohli, 35, is perhaps in the last stretch of his international career with many regarding the upcoming T20 World Cup as his last hurrah in the shortest format of the game. Quizzed during an RCB promotional event about his retirement and what fuels his insatiable hunger for excellence, the Indian batter gave a nuanced answer. "It's quite simple. I think as a sportsman, we do have an end-date to our careers. So I am just working backwards. I don't want to finish my career thinking 'oh, what if I have done this on that particular day' because I can't keep going on and on forever. So it's just about not leaving any undone business behind and not have any regrets later, which I am sure I won't," said Kohli. "Once I am done, I will be gone, you won't see me for a while (smiles). So I want to give it everything I have till the time I play, and that's the only thing that keeps me going," he added. An evening celebrating friendships, brotherhood, comebacks and more, at the @rcbbarcafe! Some behind the scenes visuals from the team dinner last night on @bigbasket_com presents Bold Diaries.#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/S0yC54UKby — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 16, 2024 × Also read | IPL 2024: Will there be reserve day for RCB vs CSK league match at Chinnaswamy? Run machine Kohli Despite being in his late thirties, Kohli is still able to give the youngsters run for their money in the fitness department. He currently leads the chart of top-scorers at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), having amasses 661 runs in only 13 innings at an enviable strike-rate of 155.16. Kohli's relentless nature of getting stuck in and taking his team alongside him is probably the reason why RCB have managed to win five matches on the bounce to be in playoff contention after a horrid start to the campaign. The weekend match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could be the decisive game of the tournament. If RCB do manage to get a win, they can qualify for the top 4 and challenge for the first trophy in the franchise's history. (With inputs from agencies)

'You won't see me...': Ahead of crucial CSK tie, Virat Kohli drops retirement bomb

<p>Ahead of the final home game of the season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday (May 12) requested its fans to stay back in the stadium after the end of the match against Rajasthan Royals (RR). The franchise released a statement saying it had "planned something&nbsp;special", and it needed fans to hang around.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There has been a huge demand of tickets for CSK's final league match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Speculations are rife that it could be MS Dhoni's last hurrah in front of the passionate Chepauk crowd as a place in the top 4 is not yet guaranteed for CSK.</p>

<p>"Requesting the Superfans to Stay back after the game!&nbsp;Something special coming your way!" read the statement&nbsp;by CSK.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨🦁 Requesting the Superfans to Stay back after the game! 🦁🚨<br />
<br />
Something special coming your way! 🙌🥳<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvRR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvRR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellorukkumThanks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellorukkumThanks</a> 🦁💛 <a href="https://t.co/an16toRGvp">pic.twitter.com/an16toRGvp</a></p>
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1789582246841815110?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Dhoni on his future</strong></h2>

<p>Dhoni is a five-time champion with CSK, having led the franchise since its inception. Quizzed last year about his retirement&nbsp;after CSK won the final against Gujarat Titans, Dhoni said he wanted to come back for the fans one more time.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Circumstantially if you see, this is the best time to announce my retirement. But the amount of love and affection I have been shown wherever I have been this year, the easy thing would be for me to say ‘Thank you very much’, but the tough thing for me is to work hard for another nine&nbsp;months and come back and play at least one&nbsp;more season of IPL,” Dhoni told commentator Harsha Bhogle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A lot depends on the body, I have 6-7 months to decide. It will be more like a gift from my side, it's not easy for me but that's a gift. The way they've shown their love and affection, I think that's something I need to do for them," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dhoni underwent a knee surgery and despite playing no professional cricket since then, has been one of the most dangerous death-over batters in the league.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-csk-coach-says-ms-dhonis-knock-psychologically-affected-mi-711500"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: CSK coach says MS Dhoni’s knock ‘psychologically’ affected MI</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Raina makes bold claim</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier this season, Dhoni's close friend and former teammate, Suresh Raina, claimed that Dhoni will be back for IPL 2025. Quizzed&nbsp;during a discussion on <em>Jio Cinema </em>if the ex-CSK skipper will turn up in 2025, Raina gave a one-word reply.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Khelenge (He'll play)," said Raina with a wry smile.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Raina's former Indian teammate RP Singh, sitting beside him also agreed that Dhoni might give the fans another year of his services.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It doesn't seem like this will be his last season," said Singh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If CSK do advance to the playoffs, there could be a possibility that the Chepauk crowd might get to witness Dhoni in action again. Qualifier 2 and the big final will be taking place in Chennai - meaning, Dhoni could be there for his swansong.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ahead of the final home game of the season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday (May 12) requested its fans to stay back in the stadium after the end of the match against Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Ahead of the final home game of the season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday (May 12) requested its fans to stay back in the stadium after the end of the match against Rajasthan Royals (RR). The franchise released a statement saying it had "planned something special", and it needed fans to hang around. There has been a huge demand of tickets for CSK's final league match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Speculations are rife that it could be MS Dhoni's last hurrah in front of the passionate Chepauk crowd as a place in the top 4 is not yet guaranteed for CSK. "Requesting the Superfans to Stay back after the game! Something special coming your way!" read the statement by CSK. 🚨🦁 Requesting the Superfans to Stay back after the game! 🦁🚨 Something special coming your way! 🙌🥳#CSKvRR #YellorukkumThanks 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/an16toRGvp — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 12, 2024 × Dhoni on his future Dhoni is a five-time champion with CSK, having led the franchise since its inception. Quizzed last year about his retirement after CSK won the final against Gujarat Titans, Dhoni said he wanted to come back for the fans one more time. “Circumstantially if you see, this is the best time to announce my retirement. But the amount of love and affection I have been shown wherever I have been this year, the easy thing would be for me to say ‘Thank you very much’, but the tough thing for me is to work hard for another nine months and come back and play at least one more season of IPL,” Dhoni told commentator Harsha Bhogle. "A lot depends on the body, I have 6-7 months to decide. It will be more like a gift from my side, it's not easy for me but that's a gift. The way they've shown their love and affection, I think that's something I need to do for them," he added. Dhoni underwent a knee surgery and despite playing no professional cricket since then, has been one of the most dangerous death-over batters in the league. Also read | IPL 2024: CSK coach says MS Dhoni’s knock ‘psychologically’ affected MI Raina makes bold claim Earlier this season, Dhoni's close friend and former teammate, Suresh Raina, claimed that Dhoni will be back for IPL 2025. Quizzed during a discussion on Jio Cinema if the ex-CSK skipper will turn up in 2025, Raina gave a one-word reply. "Khelenge (He'll play)," said Raina with a wry smile. Raina's former Indian teammate RP Singh, sitting beside him also agreed that Dhoni might give the fans another year of his services. "It doesn't seem like this will be his last season," said Singh. If CSK do advance to the playoffs, there could be a possibility that the Chepauk crowd might get to witness Dhoni in action again. Qualifier 2 and the big final will be taking place in Chennai - meaning, Dhoni could be there for his swansong. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2024: MS Dhoni to play his last match? CSK requests fans to stay back after clash vs RR

<p>Australian batter David Warner has opened up on the acrimonious break-up with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and the subsequent blocking on social media, saying it was bizarre and that it did 'hurt him'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Warner realised he was blocked by the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise in 2023 when he attempted to congratulate his national teammate Travis Head, who was acquired by SRH.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It did (hurt) because it was a sense of like hurt for fans. The fans are the most important relationship you could have. With the engagement with the fans that I had, with the team had was very good," Warner said in the latest episode of R Ashwin's YouTube show.</p>

<p>"Not sure why I was blocked. But, I did engage with a lot of fans on the social media side for SRH. I did feel it was my duty to engage with the fans, making sure they keep coming back. That's what is most important. But from the blocking point of view, I don't know. I have been sitting on it for about five&nbsp;years. It was bizarre. At the end of the day, I still got fans who come onto my page and talk to everyone. So it's great," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Warner's SRH journey</strong></h2>

<p>Warner joined a struggling SRH side in 2014 and quickly went on to become a mainstay in the batting unit. He was appointed the captain in 2015 and a year later, led the team to its maiden IPL title, beating star-studded Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final&nbsp;while finishing the tournament as the second-highest run-getter with 848 runs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from being a terrific player for the franchise, Warner managed to form a close, intrinsic bond with the Hyderabad fans, who adored him to death. Hence, when&nbsp;the partnership between the SRH board and Warner came to a bitter end, the fans were left perplexed as to what transpired behind the scenes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/david-warner-breaks-silence-on-fall-from-grace-at-srh-was-not-explained-why-i-was-dropped-as-captain-420196"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;David Warner breaks silence on fall from grace at SRH: Was not explained why I was dropped as captain</strong></a></p>

<p>Warner had started the 2021 IPL season as SRH captain but was sacked midway through the tournament and later dropped from the playing XI. To this day, Warner maintains that he does not know what he did to irk the SRH board. However, the southpaw has made peace with the fact that he may never get the answers he is looking for.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Especially when you have played about 100 games for the franchise, I think I had four bad games in those first five matches in Chennai. It is difficult, a tough pill to swallow. There are still questions to which I think I'll never get answers, but you have to move on,” said Warner last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After leaving SRH, Warner joined Delhi Capitals where he has been shouldering the opening responsibilities. The 2024 season has not been the best for the Australian who has been injured and only featured in seven matches, scoring 167 runs.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Australian batter David Warner has opened up on the acrimonious break-up with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and the subsequent blocking on social media, saying it was bizarre and that it did 'hurt him'.

Australian batter David Warner has opened up on the acrimonious break-up with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and the subsequent blocking on social media, saying it was bizarre and that it did 'hurt him'. Warner realised he was blocked by the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise in 2023 when he attempted to congratulate his national teammate Travis Head, who was acquired by SRH. "It did (hurt) because it was a sense of like hurt for fans. The fans are the most important relationship you could have. With the engagement with the fans that I had, with the team had was very good," Warner said in the latest episode of R Ashwin's YouTube show. "Not sure why I was blocked. But, I did engage with a lot of fans on the social media side for SRH. I did feel it was my duty to engage with the fans, making sure they keep coming back. That's what is most important. But from the blocking point of view, I don't know. I have been sitting on it for about five years. It was bizarre. At the end of the day, I still got fans who come onto my page and talk to everyone. So it's great," he added. Warner's SRH journey Warner joined a struggling SRH side in 2014 and quickly went on to become a mainstay in the batting unit. He was appointed the captain in 2015 and a year later, led the team to its maiden IPL title, beating star-studded Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final while finishing the tournament as the second-highest run-getter with 848 runs. Apart from being a terrific player for the franchise, Warner managed to form a close, intrinsic bond with the Hyderabad fans, who adored him to death. Hence, when the partnership between the SRH board and Warner came to a bitter end, the fans were left perplexed as to what transpired behind the scenes. Also read | David Warner breaks silence on fall from grace at SRH: Was not explained why I was dropped as captain Warner had started the 2021 IPL season as SRH captain but was sacked midway through the tournament and later dropped from the playing XI. To this day, Warner maintains that he does not know what he did to irk the SRH board. However, the southpaw has made peace with the fact that he may never get the answers he is looking for. “Especially when you have played about 100 games for the franchise, I think I had four bad games in those first five matches in Chennai. It is difficult, a tough pill to swallow. There are still questions to which I think I'll never get answers, but you have to move on,” said Warner last year. After leaving SRH, Warner joined Delhi Capitals where he has been shouldering the opening responsibilities. The 2024 season has not been the best for the Australian who has been injured and only featured in seven matches, scoring 167 runs. (With inputs from agencies)

'It did hurt': David Warner reflects on SRH blocking him on social media

<p>Punjab Kings (PBKS) bowler Harshal Patel has revealed that he didn't celebrate after picking MS Dhoni's wicket in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) due to the enormous respect he has&nbsp;for the former Indian captain. The right-arm seamer got rid of Dhoni with a cleverly disguised slower delivery that outfoxed the veteran who had to depart on a golden duck.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CSK batter arrived at the crease in the 19th over of the innings, with the crowd at the&nbsp;HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala going berserk. However, much to their disappointment, Patel had the upper hand in the battle.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Definitely bit on the drier side, we felt that and even when we hit on the hard length, it wasn't going as fast as we were bowling, it's not stopping but definitely a slower one. (On MS's dismissal) I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out," said Patel in the mid-innings show.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Quizzed how he was able to extract such movement out of the pitch, Patel said the ball was reversing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"One of the advantages of day game is, the square is quite rough, when I came into bowl the first, the ball started reversing and it drifted away a bit and it made things harder for the batter. I was not really confident with those, initially I haven't been bowling for over a year but I've been working on it, there's no technique to it but when it comes out, it's good as the batters mostly don't pick it."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Deceived 🤯<br />
<br />
Reactions says it all as MS Dhoni departs to a brilliant slower one from Harshal Patel 👏<br />
<br />
Watch the match LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JioCinema</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StarSportsIndia</a> 💻📱<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PBKSvCSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PBKSvCSK</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/PunjabKingsIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PunjabKingsIPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/gYE5TqnqaY">pic.twitter.com/gYE5TqnqaY</a></p>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1787086468088775167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-video-ms-dhoni-bowled-for-duck-by-harshal-patel-in-csk-vs-pbks-718210"><strong>IPL 2024: VIDEO | MS Dhoni bowled for duck by Harshal Patel in CSK vs PBKS</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>CSK struggle batting first</strong></h2>

<p>Put into bat first after winning the toss by PBKS captain Sam Curran, CSK endured another poor opening start as Ajinkya Rahane departed without doing much damage.&nbsp;Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Daryl Mitchell did stitch a 57-run partnership but the Kiwi was given LBW out on a marginal call.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Post Mitchell's wicket, the CSK innings went into a freefall but some clever hitting from Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja ensured that the five-time champions finished with a par total of 167 on board.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-big-blow-for-csk-as-star-bowler-returns-home-due-to-injury-718200">Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: Big BLOW for CSK as star bowler returns home due to injury</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Teams:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ajinkya</strong>&nbsp;Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Richard Gleeson, Tushar Deshpande</p>

<p><strong>Punjab Kings (Playing XI):</strong>&nbsp;Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Punjab Kings (PBKS) bowler Harshal Patel has revealed that he didn't celebrate after picking MS Dhoni's wicket in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) due to the enormous respect he has for the former Indian captain.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) bowler Harshal Patel has revealed that he didn't celebrate after picking MS Dhoni's wicket in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) due to the enormous respect he has for the former Indian captain. The right-arm seamer got rid of Dhoni with a cleverly disguised slower delivery that outfoxed the veteran who had to depart on a golden duck. The CSK batter arrived at the crease in the 19th over of the innings, with the crowd at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala going berserk. However, much to their disappointment, Patel had the upper hand in the battle. "Definitely bit on the drier side, we felt that and even when we hit on the hard length, it wasn't going as fast as we were bowling, it's not stopping but definitely a slower one. (On MS's dismissal) I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out," said Patel in the mid-innings show. Quizzed how he was able to extract such movement out of the pitch, Patel said the ball was reversing. "One of the advantages of day game is, the square is quite rough, when I came into bowl the first, the ball started reversing and it drifted away a bit and it made things harder for the batter. I was not really confident with those, initially I haven't been bowling for over a year but I've been working on it, there's no technique to it but when it comes out, it's good as the batters mostly don't pick it." Deceived 🤯 Reactions says it all as MS Dhoni departs to a brilliant slower one from Harshal Patel 👏 Watch the match LIVE on @JioCinema and @StarSportsIndia 💻📱#TATAIPL | #PBKSvCSK | @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/gYE5TqnqaY — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 5, 2024 × IPL 2024: VIDEO | MS Dhoni bowled for duck by Harshal Patel in CSK vs PBKS CSK struggle batting first Put into bat first after winning the toss by PBKS captain Sam Curran, CSK endured another poor opening start as Ajinkya Rahane departed without doing much damage. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Daryl Mitchell did stitch a 57-run partnership but the Kiwi was given LBW out on a marginal call. Post Mitchell's wicket, the CSK innings went into a freefall but some clever hitting from Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja ensured that the five-time champions finished with a par total of 167 on board. Also read | IPL 2024: Big BLOW for CSK as star bowler returns home due to injury Teams: Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ajinkya Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Richard Gleeson, Tushar Deshpande Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2024, PBKS vs CSK: Harshal Patel REVEALS why he didn’t celebrate MS Dhoni’s wicket

<p>Virat Kohli has lashed out at critics after his match-winning knock helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Speaking after the match where he hammered 70 runs in 44 balls to engineer a tricky 201-run chase, Kohli called out those sitting in the stands and questioning his strike rate and intent against spin bowling.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kohli's innings was responsible for Will Jacks being able to play himself into form and eventually hit his maiden hundred that completely deflated the Gujarat Titans bowling lineup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Not really, I think all the people who talk about strike rates and me not playing spin well are the ones who love talking about this stuff. But, for me, it's about winning the game for the team. And there is a reason you have done this for 15 years," Kohli said after his match-winning knock against Gujarat.</p>

<p>"You have done this, day in and day out. You have won games for your team. And I am not quite sure if you have not been in that situation yourself, to sit and speak about the game from a box," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-66466-wil-jacks-dismantles-rashid-khan-to-bring-up-maiden-100-for-rcb-watch-715984"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: 6,6,4,6,6 - Will Jacks dismantles Rashid Khan to bring up maiden 100 for RCB | Watch</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Kind of muscle memory</strong></h2>

<p>Kohli alongside captain Faf du Plessis began the chase in a stunning manner by adding 40 for the first wicket inside four wickets.&nbsp;Faf’s&nbsp;wicket brought the English all-rounder Jacks to the crease, and then&nbsp;the duo unleashed carnage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don't think it's the same thing. For me, it's about doing the job for the team. People can sit and talk about their own ideas and assumptions of the game. But those who have done it, day in and day out, they know what they are doing. It's kind of muscle memory for me," Kohli said.</p>

<p>Kohli's spot in the T20 World Cup squad has been subject of intense scrutiny since the start of the IPL season. Despite being the leading run-scorer in the tournament, critics have gone after Kohli, arguing that the former Indian captain did not have the power game to take up a spot in the top order.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There have been rumours swirling around that the selectors were looking beyond Kohli for the marquee tournament. However, the superlative form displayed by Kohli means that selectors will have to take a huge call if they are to drop him from the squad.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Virat Kohli has lashed out at critics after his match-winning knock helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Speaking after the match where he hammered 70 runs in 44 balls to engineer a tricky 201-run chase, Kohli called out those sitting in the stands and questioning his strike rate and intent against spin bowling.

Virat Kohli has lashed out at critics after his match-winning knock helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Speaking after the match where he hammered 70 runs in 44 balls to engineer a tricky 201-run chase, Kohli called out those sitting in the stands and questioning his strike rate and intent against spin bowling. Kohli's innings was responsible for Will Jacks being able to play himself into form and eventually hit his maiden hundred that completely deflated the Gujarat Titans bowling lineup. "Not really, I think all the people who talk about strike rates and me not playing spin well are the ones who love talking about this stuff. But, for me, it's about winning the game for the team. And there is a reason you have done this for 15 years," Kohli said after his match-winning knock against Gujarat. "You have done this, day in and day out. You have won games for your team. And I am not quite sure if you have not been in that situation yourself, to sit and speak about the game from a box," he added. Also read | IPL 2024: 6,6,4,6,6 - Will Jacks dismantles Rashid Khan to bring up maiden 100 for RCB | Watch Kind of muscle memory Kohli alongside captain Faf du Plessis began the chase in a stunning manner by adding 40 for the first wicket inside four wickets. Faf’s wicket brought the English all-rounder Jacks to the crease, and then the duo unleashed carnage. "I don't think it's the same thing. For me, it's about doing the job for the team. People can sit and talk about their own ideas and assumptions of the game. But those who have done it, day in and day out, they know what they are doing. It's kind of muscle memory for me," Kohli said. Kohli's spot in the T20 World Cup squad has been subject of intense scrutiny since the start of the IPL season. Despite being the leading run-scorer in the tournament, critics have gone after Kohli, arguing that the former Indian captain did not have the power game to take up a spot in the top order. There have been rumours swirling around that the selectors were looking beyond Kohli for the marquee tournament. However, the superlative form displayed by Kohli means that selectors will have to take a huge call if they are to drop him from the squad. (With inputs from agencies)

‘People can sit and talk,’ Virat Kohli lashes out at ‘strike-rate’ critics ahead of World Cup squad selection

<p>Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Will Jacks was at his imperious best as he smashed his maiden IPL century to guide the team to a convincing nine-wicket victory against Gujarat Titans (GT), away from home. The English batter smashed GT superstar Rashid Khan for 28 runs to reach the milestone and announce his arrival on the IPL stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Set a challenging target of 201, the match was in the balance up until the 14th over when RCB needed 53&nbsp;runs in 36 balls. However, things went pear-shaped for GT in front of their home crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad when Mohit Sharma bowled the 15th over.</p>

<p>Jacks pummeled the first two balls of the over for a four and six to bring up his fifty. From thereon, it was pure carnage as the next four deliveries yielded 17 runs. With only 24 runs left to defend, captain Shubman Gill summoned Rashid Khan into the attack to conjure up his magic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Virat Kohli, facing the first ball miscued the ball to deep midwicket for a single, bringing Jacks on strike. The no. 3 batter immediately went bang and&nbsp;smashed 6, 6, 4, 6 on the next four deliveries to bring the scores level.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-will-jacks-hits-maiden-hundred-as-rcb-register-back-to-back-wins-715979"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: Will Jacks hits maiden hundred as RCB register back-to-back wins</strong></a></p>

<p>With only one run required for victory and six runs to reach his personal milestone, Jacks slog swept&nbsp;a long hop on middle and leg over the deep midwicket boundary to kill the chase and reach his last fifty in only 10 deliveries. The previous record was 13 deliveries, set by Chris Gayle against Pune Warriors Indian in Bengaluru in 2013.&nbsp;</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Need a maximum? 🤔<br />
<br />
Call 📞 Will Jacks<br />
<br />
Virat Kohli's expression says it all 🫢💥<br />
<br />
Recap the match on <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@starsportsindia</a> and @officialjiocinema 💻📱<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvSRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvSRH</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RCBTweets</a> <a href="https://t.co/Kh8nn5qWRj">pic.twitter.com/Kh8nn5qWRj</a></p>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1784575863297831027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The way Virat Kohli celebrated Will Jacks' hundred was amazing to watch. ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/6MSzPF0pZT">pic.twitter.com/6MSzPF0pZT</a></p>
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) <a href="https://twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra/status/1784574065925296322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><b>"</b>Amazing feeling right now. Faf and Virat got us off to a very good start. I struggled early on, Virat kept his intensity up and I had the chance to get my rhythm. Once we had the time-out, we said let's get two really good overs and win the game. I just kept going and amazing feeling right now," said Jacks, who was adjudged the Player of the Match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The win helps RCB keep their narrow hopes of qualifying for the playoffs alive. The team is now only two points adrift of the sixth spot and could make a late dash for the top 4 if it keeps the winning momentum going from here.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Will Jacks was at his imperious best as he smashed his maiden IPL century to guide the team to a convincing nine-wicket victory against Gujarat Titans (GT), away from home.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Will Jacks was at his imperious best as he smashed his maiden IPL century to guide the team to a convincing nine-wicket victory against Gujarat Titans (GT), away from home. The English batter smashed GT superstar Rashid Khan for 28 runs to reach the milestone and announce his arrival on the IPL stage. Set a challenging target of 201, the match was in the balance up until the 14th over when RCB needed 53 runs in 36 balls. However, things went pear-shaped for GT in front of their home crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad when Mohit Sharma bowled the 15th over. Jacks pummeled the first two balls of the over for a four and six to bring up his fifty. From thereon, it was pure carnage as the next four deliveries yielded 17 runs. With only 24 runs left to defend, captain Shubman Gill summoned Rashid Khan into the attack to conjure up his magic. Virat Kohli, facing the first ball miscued the ball to deep midwicket for a single, bringing Jacks on strike. The no. 3 batter immediately went bang and smashed 6, 6, 4, 6 on the next four deliveries to bring the scores level. Also read | IPL 2024: Will Jacks hits maiden hundred as RCB register back-to-back wins With only one run required for victory and six runs to reach his personal milestone, Jacks slog swept a long hop on middle and leg over the deep midwicket boundary to kill the chase and reach his last fifty in only 10 deliveries. The previous record was 13 deliveries, set by Chris Gayle against Pune Warriors Indian in Bengaluru in 2013. Need a maximum? 🤔 Call 📞 Will Jacks Virat Kohli's expression says it all 🫢💥 Recap the match on @starsportsindia and @officialjiocinema 💻📱#TATAIPL | #CSKvSRH | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/Kh8nn5qWRj — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 28, 2024 × The way Virat Kohli celebrated Will Jacks' hundred was amazing to watch. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/6MSzPF0pZT — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 28, 2024 × "Amazing feeling right now. Faf and Virat got us off to a very good start. I struggled early on, Virat kept his intensity up and I had the chance to get my rhythm. Once we had the time-out, we said let's get two really good overs and win the game. I just kept going and amazing feeling right now," said Jacks, who was adjudged the Player of the Match. The win helps RCB keep their narrow hopes of qualifying for the playoffs alive. The team is now only two points adrift of the sixth spot and could make a late dash for the top 4 if it keeps the winning momentum going from here. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2024: 6,6,4,6,6 - Will Jacks dismantles Rashid Khan to bring up maiden 100 for RCB | Watch

<p>Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram has come out in support of Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya as criticism mounts against the all-rounder. Ever since Pandya switched allegiances and returned to MI from Gujarat Titans, he has been subjected to intense scrutiny from fans and pundits alike.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A section of fans siding with Rohit Sharma have booed, jeered and hurled derogatory remarks against Pandya. Reflecting on the development, Akram said the fans needed to "calm down" as they were not doing any favours to the franchise by booing the captain - one of the most important member&nbsp;of a cricket team</p>

<p>"This is the problem in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We never forget. We tell our kids that when Pandya's kid is born, you have to remind him why he became captain 20 years ago. We don't move on," Wasim Akram told&nbsp;<em>Sportskeeda</em>.</p>

<p>"I think fans need to be a little calm. At the end of the day, he is your player. He plays for Mumbai Indians, and he is the one who can make you win. They still can qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs. There is no point booing your own player. You can criticize a little bit, but move on," Akram concluded.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-poor-captaincy-from-hardik-pandya-will-cost-mi-playoffs-spot-feels-former-indian-batter-714217"><strong>Also read | IPL 2024: Poor captaincy from Hardik Pandya will cost MI playoffs spot, feels former Indian batter</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Pietersen supports Pandya&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Akram is not the first overseas former player to come out in Pandya's support. Earlier this month, ex-England batter Kevin Pietersen&nbsp;urged the Indian fans to stop the booing, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon.</p>

<p>"It's not just affects you, it affects your family. And that's the fear for what's happening for me with Hardik at the moment is that this is going to hurt him for a very, very long time," Pietersen told <em>Star Sports</em>.</p>

<p>"When he finishes his Indian career, when he finishes playing cricket, it's still going to hurt him and that's why something drastic has to be done," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gt-vs-mi-ipl-2024-hardik-pandya-not-welcomed-by-ahmedabad-fans-on-return-booed-during-toss-watch-703946"><strong>Also read | GT vs MI, IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya not welcomed by Ahmedabad fans on return, booed during toss</strong></a></p>

<p>Pandya, the captain, has looked a pale shadow of his former self. As the GT captain, the all-rounder led the franchise to consecutive finals while winning the coveted trophy in the first attempt. However, with MI, it appears that the five-time champions may not qualify for the playoffs. On an individual level, Pandya has not made any impact with bat and ball, which suggests that the constant jeering may have got to him.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram has come out in support of Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya as criticism mounts against the all-rounder. Ever since Pandya switched allegiances and returned to MI from Gujarat Titans, he has been subjected to intense scrutiny from fans and pundits alike.

Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram has come out in support of Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya as criticism mounts against the all-rounder. Ever since Pandya switched allegiances and returned to MI from Gujarat Titans, he has been subjected to intense scrutiny from fans and pundits alike. A section of fans siding with Rohit Sharma have booed, jeered and hurled derogatory remarks against Pandya. Reflecting on the development, Akram said the fans needed to "calm down" as they were not doing any favours to the franchise by booing the captain - one of the most important member of a cricket team "This is the problem in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We never forget. We tell our kids that when Pandya's kid is born, you have to remind him why he became captain 20 years ago. We don't move on," Wasim Akram told Sportskeeda. "I think fans need to be a little calm. At the end of the day, he is your player. He plays for Mumbai Indians, and he is the one who can make you win. They still can qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs. There is no point booing your own player. You can criticize a little bit, but move on," Akram concluded. Also read | IPL 2024: Poor captaincy from Hardik Pandya will cost MI playoffs spot, feels former Indian batter Pietersen supports Pandya Akram is not the first overseas former player to come out in Pandya's support. Earlier this month, ex-England batter Kevin Pietersen urged the Indian fans to stop the booing, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon. "It's not just affects you, it affects your family. And that's the fear for what's happening for me with Hardik at the moment is that this is going to hurt him for a very, very long time," Pietersen told Star Sports. "When he finishes his Indian career, when he finishes playing cricket, it's still going to hurt him and that's why something drastic has to be done," he added. Also read | GT vs MI, IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya not welcomed by Ahmedabad fans on return, booed during toss Pandya, the captain, has looked a pale shadow of his former self. As the GT captain, the all-rounder led the franchise to consecutive finals while winning the coveted trophy in the first attempt. However, with MI, it appears that the five-time champions may not qualify for the playoffs. On an individual level, Pandya has not made any impact with bat and ball, which suggests that the constant jeering may have got to him. (With inputs from agencies)

'The problem in India...': Wasim Akram on criticism levelled against MI captain Hardik Pandya

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