<p>Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered five straight losses in this ongoing season of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) 2025. Moreover, their recent form has raised concerns over their chances to qualify for the playoffs.</p>
<p>With their latest loss to to the defendig champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday (April 11), <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings">CSK</a> is positioned at ninth in the points table with two points from six matches and net run-rate of -1.554. With remaining eight matches left, CSK would need to pull off a massive turnaround in order to finish in the top four at the end of the league phase. Generally, teams with 16 points at the end of the league phase are all but guaranteed to finish in the playoff places.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-csk-have-got-the-right-players-not-giving-up-just-yet-says-michael-hussey-after-team-suffers-fifth-straight-loss-8954491">IPL 2025: 'CSK have got the right players, not giving up just yet', says Michael Hussey after team suffers fifth straight loss</a></strong></p>
<h2>'We have to accept challenge'</h2>
<p>Last season, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bengaluru">Royal Challengers Bengaluru</a> (RCB) qualified for the playoffs despite losing seven of their first eight matches. In fact, they finished fourth with 14 points from as many matches.&nbsp;Considering that, CSK also have an outside chance of qualifying for the playoffs. However, they would have to win their remaining matches, and also hope that other results go their way.</p>
<p>If CSK win all of their remaining matches, they'll end the group stage with 16 points from 14 matches. Even if they finish with 14 points, they would still have a slim chance of making it to the playoffs.</p>
<p>CSK stand-in captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mahendra-singh-dhoni">Mahendra Singh Dhoni</a> opened up on the reason behind the team's poor form of run. "It has been quite a few nights that have not gone our way. The challenge has been there, we have to accept the challenge. Today, I felt we did not have enough runs on the board. It has been the case over there; when we bowled in the 2nd innings, it stopped a bit. Today, it did in the first innings. When you lose too many wickets, there is pressure and with quality spinners, it is difficult. We never got any partnerships, and a bit more partnerships, application, and we would be fine. What is important is to see the conditions," MS Dhoni said in the post-match presentation.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

India News, Sports: Following their latest defeat to KKR on Friday (April 11), CSK sit ninth in points table with two points from six matches and net run-rate of -1.554

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered five straight losses in this ongoing season of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Moreover, their recent form has raised concerns over their chances to qualify for the playoffs. With their latest loss to to the defendig champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday (April 11), CSK is positioned at ninth in the points table with two points from six matches and net run-rate of -1.554. With remaining eight matches left, CSK would need to pull off a massive turnaround in order to finish in the top four at the end of the league phase. Generally, teams with 16 points at the end of the league phase are all but guaranteed to finish in the playoff places. Also Read: IPL 2025: 'CSK have got the right players, not giving up just yet', says Michael Hussey after team suffers fifth straight loss 'We have to accept challenge' Last season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) qualified for the playoffs despite losing seven of their first eight matches. In fact, they finished fourth with 14 points from as many matches. Considering that, CSK also have an outside chance of qualifying for the playoffs. However, they would have to win their remaining matches, and also hope that other results go their way. If CSK win all of their remaining matches, they'll end the group stage with 16 points from 14 matches. Even if they finish with 14 points, they would still have a slim chance of making it to the playoffs. CSK stand-in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni opened up on the reason behind the team's poor form of run. "It has been quite a few nights that have not gone our way. The challenge has been there, we have to accept the challenge. Today, I felt we did not have enough runs on the board. It has been the case over there; when we bowled in the 2nd innings, it stopped a bit. Today, it did in the first innings. When you lose too many wickets, there is pressure and with quality spinners, it is difficult. We never got any partnerships, and a bit more partnerships, application, and we would be fine. What is important is to see the conditions," MS Dhoni said in the post-match presentation. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Here's how CSK can still qualify for playoffs. Deets inside

<p>When Chennai Super Kings walked back into the dressing room after being bowled out for just 103 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Chepauk, their lowest score ever at home, the mood was low. Players looked disappointed and fans had many questions. But in all , one man stayed positive. CSK&rsquo;s batting coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/michael-hussey">Michael Hussey</a> believes that the team has the right players and can make a strong comeback.</p>
<p>After suffering their fifth consecutive defeat, this time an eight-wicket loss to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a>, questions surfaced around CSK&rsquo;s current form. But Hussey isn&rsquo;t ready to panic.&nbsp;&ldquo;I still think we've got the right players,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We've just got to try and help them find some confidence and consistency... whether that's with the bat, ball or in the field.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-this-is-not-the-csk-we-know-says-former-australian-wc-winning-captain-8954450">IPL 2025: 'This is not the CSK we know', says former Australian WC winning captain</a></strong></p>
<p>Many fans and experts have questioned if CSK are holding onto players past their prime. But Hussey defended the senior names.&nbsp;&ldquo;I would argue that they're beyond their prime. I don't agree with that... I think of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shane-watson">Shane Watson</a>. I think of Ajinkya Rahane. They've performed really well for CSK,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I still think that the players that we've got still have some good cricket in front of them.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>'Want to pick guys when they are ready to perform'</h2>
<p>He also addressed the calls to bring in young talent.&nbsp;&ldquo;We want to pick guys when they're ready to perform,&rdquo; Hussey added. &ldquo;Sometimes when teams give up and think, 'we can't win the tournament anymore... we'll just try the youngsters now'. That&rsquo;s not us. We're not putting the white flag up just yet.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Despite a poor run with the bat, ball, and fielding, CSK still hopes to make a comeback.&nbsp;&ldquo;You only have to get into scraping to that fourth place. If we can change that momentum and get a few wins... we might be able to scrape into one of those last positions,&rdquo; Hussey said.</p>
<p>There&rsquo;s soul-searching to do, he admitted &nbsp;but also belief.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: After suffering their fifth consecutive defeat, and an eight-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders, questions surfaced around CSK’s current form

When Chennai Super Kings walked back into the dressing room after being bowled out for just 103 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Chepauk, their lowest score ever at home, the mood was low. Players looked disappointed and fans had many questions. But in all , one man stayed positive. CSK’s batting coach Michael Hussey believes that the team has the right players and can make a strong comeback. After suffering their fifth consecutive defeat, this time an eight-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders, questions surfaced around CSK’s current form. But Hussey isn’t ready to panic. “I still think we've got the right players,” he said. “We've just got to try and help them find some confidence and consistency... whether that's with the bat, ball or in the field.” Also Read: IPL 2025: 'This is not the CSK we know', says former Australian WC winning captain Many fans and experts have questioned if CSK are holding onto players past their prime. But Hussey defended the senior names. “I would argue that they're beyond their prime. I don't agree with that... I think of Shane Watson. I think of Ajinkya Rahane. They've performed really well for CSK,” he said. “I still think that the players that we've got still have some good cricket in front of them.” 'Want to pick guys when they are ready to perform' He also addressed the calls to bring in young talent. “We want to pick guys when they're ready to perform,” Hussey added. “Sometimes when teams give up and think, 'we can't win the tournament anymore... we'll just try the youngsters now'. That’s not us. We're not putting the white flag up just yet.” Despite a poor run with the bat, ball, and fielding, CSK still hopes to make a comeback. “You only have to get into scraping to that fourth place. If we can change that momentum and get a few wins... we might be able to scrape into one of those last positions,” Hussey said. There’s soul-searching to do, he admitted but also belief. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'CSK have got the right players, not giving up just yet', says Michael Hussey after team suffers fifth straight loss

<p>Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lost to defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> 2025 at Chepauk stadium on Friday (April 11).</p>
<p>Former Australian captain, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/michael-clarke">Michael Clarke</a> believes CSK are clearly down on confidence and need to take bold risks now. He said, "This is not the CSK we have seen over the years. This team feels different - low on fight, belief and struggling to find answers. After five consecutive losses in IPL 2025, even fans are beginning to wonder what&rsquo;s happening with the team."&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-how-artificial-intelligence-and-data-analytics-are-transforming-fantasy-sports-8954077">Exclusive | How artificial intelligence and data analytics are transforming fantasy sports</a></strong></p>
<p>At Chepauk, the five-time champions were bowled out for just 103-their lowest-ever score at home. Not even MS Dhoni&rsquo;s return as captain could change their fortunes. Kolkata Knight Riders chased the target in just 10.1 overs, handing them their biggest IPL defeat in terms of balls remaining (59). CSK are now placed ninth on the points table.</p>
<h2>'They are low on confidence'</h2>
<p>Clarke, speaking on JioHotstar, didn&rsquo;t hold back. "They&rsquo;re down on confidence. There was no intent. Right now, it looks like they&rsquo;re just trying to avoid a big defeat instead of playing to win. They need to throw everything on the line," he said.</p>
<p>"Just like winning brings confidence, losing also becomes a habit. And it&rsquo;s hard to shake off," he added.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, former CSK spinner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/piyush-chawla">Piyush Chawla</a> said it&rsquo;s time to bring in young blood and to do some experiment. He said,&nbsp;"Someone like Andre Siddarth deserves a chance. You&rsquo;ve already seen enough of Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda. Even one or two changes in the team can infuse fresh energy and confidence."</p>
<p>Chawla also praised KKR&rsquo;s Sunil Narine, who took 3/13. "Even after all these years, batters still struggle to read him. He was accurate, clever, and didn&rsquo;t allow any boundaries," he concluded.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: At Chepauk, the five-time champions were bowled out for 103-their lowest-ever score at home. Not even MSD's return as captain could change their fortunes

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lost to defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 at Chepauk stadium on Friday (April 11). Former Australian captain, Michael Clarke believes CSK are clearly down on confidence and need to take bold risks now. He said, "This is not the CSK we have seen over the years. This team feels different - low on fight, belief and struggling to find answers. After five consecutive losses in IPL 2025, even fans are beginning to wonder what’s happening with the team." Also Read: Exclusive | How artificial intelligence and data analytics are transforming fantasy sports At Chepauk, the five-time champions were bowled out for just 103-their lowest-ever score at home. Not even MS Dhoni’s return as captain could change their fortunes. Kolkata Knight Riders chased the target in just 10.1 overs, handing them their biggest IPL defeat in terms of balls remaining (59). CSK are now placed ninth on the points table. 'They are low on confidence' Clarke, speaking on JioHotstar, didn’t hold back. "They’re down on confidence. There was no intent. Right now, it looks like they’re just trying to avoid a big defeat instead of playing to win. They need to throw everything on the line," he said. "Just like winning brings confidence, losing also becomes a habit. And it’s hard to shake off," he added. Meanwhile, former CSK spinner Piyush Chawla said it’s time to bring in young blood and to do some experiment. He said, "Someone like Andre Siddarth deserves a chance. You’ve already seen enough of Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda. Even one or two changes in the team can infuse fresh energy and confidence." Chawla also praised KKR’s Sunil Narine, who took 3/13. "Even after all these years, batters still struggle to read him. He was accurate, clever, and didn’t allow any boundaries," he concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'This is not the CSK we know', says former Australian WC winning captain

<p><span>Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders opening batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/quinton-de-kock" rel="dofollow">Quinton de Kock</a> said having former Chennai Super Kings players Ajinkya Rahane and Moeen Ali in their team gave them key insights into the Chepauk conditions, which prompted the decision to include an extra spinner, a move that proved crucial in their eight-wicket win.</span></p>
<p><span>KKR spinners <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunil-narine">Sunil Narine</a> (3/13), <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/varun-chakaravarthy">Varun Chakravarthy</a> (2/22), and Moeen Ali (1/20) shared five wickets between them, while pacer Harshit Rana chipped in with 2/16. KKR restricted the five-time champions to </span><span>their lowest-ever total of 103/9 in Chennai. "When we bowled, it seemed a lot slower, gripped a bit and our bowlers really enjoy that. We have got guys like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</a> and Moeen Ali who have been here before and they kind of knew that, so that's why we played an extra spinner,&rdquo; de Kock said after the match.</span></p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rizwan-claps-back-at-english-critics-says-pakistan-wants-cricket-not-english-8953690">Rizwan claps back at English critics, says 'Pakistan wants cricket from me, not English'</a></strong></p>
<p><span>On being asked about the nature of the pitch and if it changed in the second innings, de Kock said it only got better for batting as the game progressed. </span><span>"I do think (in) the second innings it got slightly better. It did come on a bit better, or at least that's what I felt, that's how it played, sort of slow and just got better and better during the innings went on," he said.</span></p>
<h2><span>'Narine and Varun are always working on their games'</span></h2>
<p><span>De Kock lauded KKR for bringing together two mystery spinners and praised Narine for his all-round show. Narine made a quickfire 18-ball 44. </span><span>&ldquo;It's always (about) mixing it up. I think it's hard to line up certain spin bowlers like that because you never know what you're going to get,&rdquo; de Kock said.</span></p>
<p><span>"On top of that, having that amount of skill, the areas they bowl, Sunil prides himself on the areas that he bowls and so does Varun Chakaravarthy. They're always working on their games, always trying to get better."&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span>"Sunil, when he bats, he brings the X factor. I think every bowler knows he's going to come hard. He practices really hard. He's always at practices. I don't think he's missed a practice, even optional practices. He really does work on it,&rdquo; he concluded.</span></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders spinners Sunil Narine (3/13), Varun Chakravarthy (2/22), and Moeen Ali (1/20) shared five wickets between them

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders opening batter Quinton de Kock said having former Chennai Super Kings players Ajinkya Rahane and Moeen Ali in their team gave them key insights into the Chepauk conditions, which prompted the decision to include an extra spinner, a move that proved crucial in their eight-wicket win. KKR spinners Sunil Narine (3/13), Varun Chakravarthy (2/22), and Moeen Ali (1/20) shared five wickets between them, while pacer Harshit Rana chipped in with 2/16. KKR restricted the five-time champions to their lowest-ever total of 103/9 in Chennai. "When we bowled, it seemed a lot slower, gripped a bit and our bowlers really enjoy that. We have got guys like Ajinkya Rahane and Moeen Ali who have been here before and they kind of knew that, so that's why we played an extra spinner,” de Kock said after the match. Also Read: Rizwan claps back at English critics, says 'Pakistan wants cricket from me, not English' On being asked about the nature of the pitch and if it changed in the second innings, de Kock said it only got better for batting as the game progressed. "I do think (in) the second innings it got slightly better. It did come on a bit better, or at least that's what I felt, that's how it played, sort of slow and just got better and better during the innings went on," he said. 'Narine and Varun are always working on their games' De Kock lauded KKR for bringing together two mystery spinners and praised Narine for his all-round show. Narine made a quickfire 18-ball 44. “It's always (about) mixing it up. I think it's hard to line up certain spin bowlers like that because you never know what you're going to get,” de Kock said. "On top of that, having that amount of skill, the areas they bowl, Sunil prides himself on the areas that he bowls and so does Varun Chakaravarthy. They're always working on their games, always trying to get better." "Sunil, when he bats, he brings the X factor. I think every bowler knows he's going to come hard. He practices really hard. He's always at practices. I don't think he's missed a practice, even optional practices. He really does work on it,” he concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Quinton de Kock reveals KKR’s spin-heavy strategy to tackle CSK on Chepauk’s turning track

<p>The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured a dominating win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday (April 11) in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league" rel="dofollow">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) 2025. The defending champions beat the five-team champions by eight wickets and with ten overs to spare.</p>
<p>KKR's&nbsp;right-arm off-spinner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/moeen-ali">Moeen Ali</a> hailed Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy after their phenomenal performance. Sunil&nbsp;Narine was the pick of the bowlers for KKR as he picked three wickets and gave just 13 runs in his allotted four overs. He shined with the bat, too, where he made a quickfire 44 runs from just 18 balls. His innings included five sixes and two boundaries.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/billie-jean-king-cup-vaidehi-and-shrivalli-shine-as-india-downs-chinese-taipei-8953230">Billie Jean King Cup: Vaidehi and Shrivalli shine as India downs Chinese Taipei</a></strong></p>
<p>The 36-year-old was awarded the Player of the Match following his all-round performance.&nbsp;On the other hand, India's mystery spinner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/varun-chakaravarthy">Varun Chakaravarthy</a> scalped two wickets in his four overs, giving away 22 runs. He took important wickets of Vijay Shankar and Deepak Hooda in his spell.</p>
<h2>'Varun and Sunil are just amazing'</h2>
<p>"It was nice, and having two left-handers helped my case. Just trying to keep it as tight as I can and pick up a couple of wickets. I picked up one wicket. It is nice, and Rinku's dive for me to stop that four was big boost for my confidence. Try not to bowl too quickly; just give time to spin, and sometimes it skids, sometimes it spins. I like to keep the shape of the ball and try to spin it."</p>
<p>"They (Narine and Varun) are amazing spinners, and they have been for a while now, especially Sunil. If I can bowl a couple of overs up top and set them up in the middle where they are quite hard to hit, I am learning from them and trying to keep up. The pitch was a little bit tacky; you don't need to spin every ball, just one to put the doubt in the batter's mind," Moeen said during the post-match presentation.</p>
<p>Moeen Ali had a good day out with the ball, where he grabbed one wicket in his spell of four overs, where he gave away 20 runs at an economy of 5. He bowled one maiden over and took the wickets of Devon Conway in his spell.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: Sunil Narine was the pick of the bowlers for the Kolkata Knight Riders. He picked three wickets and conceded just 13 runs in his spell of four overs

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured a dominating win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday (April 11) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The defending champions beat the five-team champions by eight wickets and with ten overs to spare. KKR's right-arm off-spinner Moeen Ali hailed Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy after their phenomenal performance. Sunil Narine was the pick of the bowlers for KKR as he picked three wickets and gave just 13 runs in his allotted four overs. He shined with the bat, too, where he made a quickfire 44 runs from just 18 balls. His innings included five sixes and two boundaries. Also Read: Billie Jean King Cup: Vaidehi and Shrivalli shine as India downs Chinese Taipei The 36-year-old was awarded the Player of the Match following his all-round performance. On the other hand, India's mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy scalped two wickets in his four overs, giving away 22 runs. He took important wickets of Vijay Shankar and Deepak Hooda in his spell. 'Varun and Sunil are just amazing' "It was nice, and having two left-handers helped my case. Just trying to keep it as tight as I can and pick up a couple of wickets. I picked up one wicket. It is nice, and Rinku's dive for me to stop that four was big boost for my confidence. Try not to bowl too quickly; just give time to spin, and sometimes it skids, sometimes it spins. I like to keep the shape of the ball and try to spin it." "They (Narine and Varun) are amazing spinners, and they have been for a while now, especially Sunil. If I can bowl a couple of overs up top and set them up in the middle where they are quite hard to hit, I am learning from them and trying to keep up. The pitch was a little bit tacky; you don't need to spin every ball, just one to put the doubt in the batter's mind," Moeen said during the post-match presentation. Moeen Ali had a good day out with the ball, where he grabbed one wicket in his spell of four overs, where he gave away 20 runs at an economy of 5. He bowled one maiden over and took the wickets of Devon Conway in his spell. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Moeen Ali left in awe of KKR’s spin wizards after dominating win over CSK

<p>In a move promoting cross-pollination of skillsets of various formats of the game, a top performer in street tennis cricket, Abhishek Kumar Dalhor, who played for the Majhi Mumba franchise in the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL),&nbsp;has joined the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) as a net bowler for defending champions <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> (KKR).</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/billie-jean-king-cup-i-was-little-emotional-but-i-handled-myself-well-says-shrivalli-after-her-debut-win-for-india-8943278">Billie Jean King Cup: 'I was little emotional but I handled myself well', says Shrivalli after her debut win for India</a></strong></p>
<p>Abhishek, the most expensive player in ISPL history, emerged as one of the standout performers in the league. He impressed everyone with his pace, consistency, skill and match-winning ability. A vital part of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/amitabh-bachchan" rel="dofollow">Amitabh Bachchan</a>-owned Majhi Mumbai&rsquo;s title-winning campaign in season 2, held earlier this year, Dalhor has quickly become a household name among cricket fans.</p>
<h2>Who is Abhishek?</h2>
<p>Across two seasons, the Ambala-born cricketer struck 324 runs and claimed 33 wickets in just 19 matches. His outstanding contributions earned him the player of the tournament award in season 1 and the best bowler of the tournament award in season 2.</p>
<p><strong>Watch the video on Instagram:</strong></p>
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<p>Abhishek's journey from playing street tennis cricket to becoming a fan favorite is nothing short of inspiring. Hailing from a middle-class background, he began his career in street cricket like countless other hopefuls and went on to play in various local tournaments across the country. But it was the ISPL that truly changed his life and turned him into a household name.</p>
<p>From the streets of Haryana to the big stage of ISPL, and now stepping into the IPL ecosystem, Abhishek&rsquo;s journey is a great example of how the ISPL has been revolutionising grassroots cricket in India.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: Across two seasons of the Indian Street Premier League, the Ambala-born cricketer has struck 324 runs and picked 33 wickets in just 19 matches

In a move promoting cross-pollination of skillsets of various formats of the game, a top performer in street tennis cricket, Abhishek Kumar Dalhor, who played for the Majhi Mumba franchise in the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), has joined the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a net bowler for defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Also Read: Billie Jean King Cup: 'I was little emotional but I handled myself well', says Shrivalli after her debut win for India Abhishek, the most expensive player in ISPL history, emerged as one of the standout performers in the league. He impressed everyone with his pace, consistency, skill and match-winning ability. A vital part of Amitabh Bachchan-owned Majhi Mumbai’s title-winning campaign in season 2, held earlier this year, Dalhor has quickly become a household name among cricket fans. Who is Abhishek? Across two seasons, the Ambala-born cricketer struck 324 runs and claimed 33 wickets in just 19 matches. His outstanding contributions earned him the player of the tournament award in season 1 and the best bowler of the tournament award in season 2. Watch the video on Instagram: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Abhishek Kumar Dalhor (@karan_ambala09) Abhishek's journey from playing street tennis cricket to becoming a fan favorite is nothing short of inspiring. Hailing from a middle-class background, he began his career in street cricket like countless other hopefuls and went on to play in various local tournaments across the country. But it was the ISPL that truly changed his life and turned him into a household name. From the streets of Haryana to the big stage of ISPL, and now stepping into the IPL ecosystem, Abhishek’s journey is a great example of how the ISPL has been revolutionising grassroots cricket in India. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders has a new net bowler. KNOW WHO?

<p>Former England cricketer and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a>' (KKR) all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/moeen-ali">Moeen Ali</a> shared his views on the ongoing debate of several senior players extending their career and how late is it too late to retire from cricket as India&nbsp;<span>obsesses over the future of their ageing stars.</span>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Speaking to Indian Express, the KKR all-rounder spoke about why he stepped away from international cricket. He said, &ldquo;If England was a franchise, I&rsquo;d still be playing." He added that he could have continued playing if it was a club or a franchise, but when it comes to playing for your country, it&rsquo;s a different game. &nbsp;</p>
<p>This got many thinking &mdash; should some of our big Indian stars also think the same way?</p>
<p>Let&rsquo;s be real - people have their icons. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit Sharma</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a>, they are not just players, they are emotions. Fans have grown up watching them, cheering for them, defending them on social media after their every failure. But even the biggest fans have noticed the dip in form lately, especially Rohit. His recent struggles to find&nbsp;<span>rhythm</span> in the ongoing IPL haven&rsquo;t really shown his HITMAN mode.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-boxing-legend-mary-kom-living-separately-from-husband-amid-divorce-rumours-reports-suggests-so-8942967">Indian boxing legend Mary Kom living separately from husband amid divorce rumours? Reports suggests so</a></strong></p>
<p>Moeen&rsquo;s point is simple. Just because you are a big name or have a huge fan base, doesn&rsquo;t mean you hold on to the spot forever.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>'It is 'selfish' to continue for sake of personal goals'</h2>
<p>Playing for the country means you have to ask yourself tough questions. Are you still contributing? Are there younger players doing better than you? If yes, maybe it&rsquo;s time to step aside. Not because you aren&rsquo;t great anymore, but because the team needs to move forward. &nbsp;</p>
<p>He even called it 'selfish' to continue just for the sake of personal goals or reputation. We, as fans, always want our team to win. And for that, sometimes, even our favourites might have to take a backseat. Moeen&rsquo;s words may hurt, but maybe it&rsquo;s the kind of honesty that Indian cricket needs right now.</p>
<p>"I definitely think you shouldn't just hold on because you're a big name or you have a massive following. And it should never be your own personal goals," he signed off.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: Moeen said he could’ve continued playing if it was a club or a franchise, but when it comes to playing for your country, it’s a different game

Former England cricketer and Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) all-rounder Moeen Ali shared his views on the ongoing debate of several senior players extending their career and how late is it too late to retire from cricket as India obsesses over the future of their ageing stars. Speaking to Indian Express, the KKR all-rounder spoke about why he stepped away from international cricket. He said, “If England was a franchise, I’d still be playing." He added that he could have continued playing if it was a club or a franchise, but when it comes to playing for your country, it’s a different game. This got many thinking — should some of our big Indian stars also think the same way? Let’s be real - people have their icons. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, they are not just players, they are emotions. Fans have grown up watching them, cheering for them, defending them on social media after their every failure. But even the biggest fans have noticed the dip in form lately, especially Rohit. His recent struggles to find rhythm in the ongoing IPL haven’t really shown his HITMAN mode. Also Read: Indian boxing legend Mary Kom living separately from husband amid divorce rumours? Reports suggests so Moeen’s point is simple. Just because you are a big name or have a huge fan base, doesn’t mean you hold on to the spot forever. 'It is 'selfish' to continue for sake of personal goals' Playing for the country means you have to ask yourself tough questions. Are you still contributing? Are there younger players doing better than you? If yes, maybe it’s time to step aside. Not because you aren’t great anymore, but because the team needs to move forward. He even called it 'selfish' to continue just for the sake of personal goals or reputation. We, as fans, always want our team to win. And for that, sometimes, even our favourites might have to take a backseat. Moeen’s words may hurt, but maybe it’s the kind of honesty that Indian cricket needs right now. "I definitely think you shouldn't just hold on because you're a big name or you have a massive following. And it should never be your own personal goals," he signed off. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'If England was a franchise, I’d still be playing,' KKR's Moeen Ali’s words spark big question for cricket fans

<p data-start="82" data-end="316" class="">After guiding his team to a nail-biting four-run win over defending champions <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> (KKR) in the ongoing IPL 2025, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lucknow-super-giants">Lucknow Super Giants</a> (LSG) captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a> assured fans that his back is fine, following an injury scare during the match.</p>
<p data-start="318" data-end="561" class="">The incident occurred during the 12th over of KKR&rsquo;s innings when Pant was seen receiving treatment from the physios on the field for some discomfort in his back. Despite the concern, he continued to keep wickets for the remainder of the match.</p>
<p data-start="318" data-end="561" class=""><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-we-are-not-at-all-worried-about-russells-form-says-kkr-skipper-ajinkya-rahane-after-narrow-loss-to-lsg-8940467">IPL 2025: 'We are not at all worried about Russell&rsquo;s form', says KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane after narrow loss to LSG</a></strong></p>
<p data-start="563" data-end="657" class="">Addressing the issue during the post-match presentation, Pant said simply, "It is fine now."</p>
<h2 data-start="563" data-end="657">'Our plan was get the basics right'</h2>
<p data-start="659" data-end="940" class="">Reflecting on LSG's gritty performance, he added, "When we batted, we didn&rsquo;t realise it would get this close. But after the powerplay, we sensed it. At the first timeout, we spoke to the bowlers, told them to stick to the plans, not overdo things, and just get the basics right."</p>
<p data-start="942" data-end="1141" class="">On slowing down the tempo of the game, Pant said it was a deliberate move: "When the game starts moving at that pace, you have to try something different. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn&rsquo;t."</p>
<p data-start="1143" data-end="1379" class="">With this win, LSG have now climbed to the fourth spot on the points table with six points from five matches (three wins, two losses). KKR, on the other hand, dropped to sixth with four points from five outings (two wins, three losses).</p>
<p data-start="1143" data-end="1379" class=""><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: The incident occurred during 12th over of KKR’s innings when Pant was seen receiving treatment from physios on the field for some discomfort in his back

After guiding his team to a nail-biting four-run win over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing IPL 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant assured fans that his back is fine, following an injury scare during the match. The incident occurred during the 12th over of KKR’s innings when Pant was seen receiving treatment from the physios on the field for some discomfort in his back. Despite the concern, he continued to keep wickets for the remainder of the match. Also Read: IPL 2025: 'We are not at all worried about Russell’s form', says KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane after narrow loss to LSG Addressing the issue during the post-match presentation, Pant said simply, "It is fine now." 'Our plan was get the basics right' Reflecting on LSG's gritty performance, he added, "When we batted, we didn’t realise it would get this close. But after the powerplay, we sensed it. At the first timeout, we spoke to the bowlers, told them to stick to the plans, not overdo things, and just get the basics right." On slowing down the tempo of the game, Pant said it was a deliberate move: "When the game starts moving at that pace, you have to try something different. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t." With this win, LSG have now climbed to the fourth spot on the points table with six points from five matches (three wins, two losses). KKR, on the other hand, dropped to sixth with four points from five outings (two wins, three losses). (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: My back is fine now: LSG skipper Rishabh Pant after thrilling win over KKR

<p>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) suffered a disappointing 4-run loss against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 21st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday, April 8th.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</a> played a captain's knock during the run chase for KKR. However, the 36-year-old's 61-run knock from 35 balls went in vain after he was dismissed by Shardul Thakur in the 13th over. The KKR skipper smashed 8 fours and 2 sixes during his time on the crease.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rahane spoke about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/andre-russell">Andre Russell</a>'s recent stuggles to find form. He siad,&nbsp;&ldquo;We are not at all concerned or worried about his form." That one line summed up the belief the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> still have in their power-hitter, even after another tough defeat.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fih-fifa-innovation-team-unveil-joint-guide-for-dual-sport-synthetic-turf-pitches-8940403">FIH, FIFA innovation team unveil joint guide for dual sport synthetic turf pitches</a></strong></p>
<p>KKR lost a close game at Eden Gardens, where more than 490 runs were scored. The home team so close, but couldn&rsquo;t cross the finish line. The crowd had their hopes high, but the night belonged to Lucknow Super Giants.</p>
<h2>'I thought our plans were perfect'</h2>
<p>One of the biggest talking points was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunil-narine">Sunil Narine</a> not finishing his full quota of overs. Rahane cleared the air saying, &ldquo;Not an injury thing,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I thought Nicholas Pooran was playing well against him and we thought playing the spinner was easy. One boundary was shorter so that&rsquo;s the reason I wanted to go with Andre Russell.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The match turned in the middle overs. LSG batters Pooran and Marsh took on KKR&rsquo;s bowling, especially when they missed their lengths. &ldquo;I thought our plans were perfect,&rdquo; Rahane said, &ldquo;but they couldn&rsquo;t bowl into the right area&hellip; and they just capitalised on the slightly loose balls.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Despite the loss, Rahane praised his young bowlers. &ldquo;Vaibhav bowled really well throughout this game,&rdquo; he said, adding that it was a tough pitch for bowlers and boundaries were tricky to defend.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: Kolkata Knight Riders lost a close game at Eden Gardens, where more than 490 runs were scored. The home team so close, but couldn’t cross the finish line

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) suffered a disappointing 4-run loss against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 21st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday, April 8th. Ajinkya Rahane played a captain's knock during the run chase for KKR. However, the 36-year-old's 61-run knock from 35 balls went in vain after he was dismissed by Shardul Thakur in the 13th over. The KKR skipper smashed 8 fours and 2 sixes during his time on the crease. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rahane spoke about Andre Russell's recent stuggles to find form. He siad, “We are not at all concerned or worried about his form." That one line summed up the belief the Kolkata Knight Riders still have in their power-hitter, even after another tough defeat. Also Read: FIH, FIFA innovation team unveil joint guide for dual sport synthetic turf pitches KKR lost a close game at Eden Gardens, where more than 490 runs were scored. The home team so close, but couldn’t cross the finish line. The crowd had their hopes high, but the night belonged to Lucknow Super Giants. 'I thought our plans were perfect' One of the biggest talking points was Sunil Narine not finishing his full quota of overs. Rahane cleared the air saying, “Not an injury thing,” he said. “I thought Nicholas Pooran was playing well against him and we thought playing the spinner was easy. One boundary was shorter so that’s the reason I wanted to go with Andre Russell.” The match turned in the middle overs. LSG batters Pooran and Marsh took on KKR’s bowling, especially when they missed their lengths. “I thought our plans were perfect,” Rahane said, “but they couldn’t bowl into the right area… and they just capitalised on the slightly loose balls.” Despite the loss, Rahane praised his young bowlers. “Vaibhav bowled really well throughout this game,” he said, adding that it was a tough pitch for bowlers and boundaries were tricky to defend. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'We are not at all worried about Russell’s form', says KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane after narrow loss to LSG

<p>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer, in an apparent subtle dig at SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), said that they don't want to be a team which scores 250 in one game and get out 70 in the next match. The comment came after KKR handed SRH their third defeat of the season - beating them by 80 runs on Thursday (Apr 3). Iyer's comments were in context to SRH's go-hard batting approach which has failed miserably this season.</p>
<p>"It's very important for us to show positive but correct intent," Iyer said at the post-match press conference. "If we are 50 for 6 and I still go and tonk everything, that's positive, but that's not correct.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-from-34-fours-in-first-game-to-31-in-next-three-srh-need-to-stop-mindless-hitting-now-and-start-playing-percentage-cricket-8925894" aria-label="IPL 2025 | 'From 34 fours in first game to 31 in next three': SRH need to stop mindless hitting now and start playing percentage cricket">IPL 2025 | 'From 34 fours in first game to 31 in next three': SRH need to stop mindless hitting now and start playing percentage cricket</a></p>
<p>"Aggression does not mean tonking every ball for sixes. It's about how you understand the conditions, how you are able to maximize the conditions in your favour. And that is what aggression actually is.</p>
<p>"We don't want to be the team that scores 250 when we're playing well and when we're not, we get out for 70. We want to be a team who understands the pitch and the conditions quickly. To assess the par score and try to make 20 runs above par," Iyer added.</p>
<p>KKR were asked to bat first after losing the toss and decision by SRH seemed right when they took two quick wickets. Ajinkya Rahane (38) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (50) added 81 runs for the third wicket. After two quick wickets brought SRH back in game, Venkatesh Iyer (60) and Rinku Singh (32 not out) took the charge and added 91 runs for the fifth wicket and as KKR posted 200/6 in 20 overs.</p>
<p>SRH, after losing three quick wickets, were never in the hunt. They were down six wickets for less than 100 runs and were eventually bowled out for 120 runs.</p>
<p>SRH skipper Cummins also said that they 'have to look at other options' after their third loss in a row.</p>

Venkatesh Iyer's comments were in context to SRH's go-hard batting approach which has failed miserably this season, evident by their three losses in a row. Cricket Sports

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer, in an apparent subtle dig at SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), said that they don't want to be a team which scores 250 in one game and get out 70 in the next match. The comment came after KKR handed SRH their third defeat of the season - beating them by 80 runs on Thursday (Apr 3). Iyer's comments were in context to SRH's go-hard batting approach which has failed miserably this season. "It's very important for us to show positive but correct intent," Iyer said at the post-match press conference. "If we are 50 for 6 and I still go and tonk everything, that's positive, but that's not correct. Also Read: IPL 2025 | 'From 34 fours in first game to 31 in next three': SRH need to stop mindless hitting now and start playing percentage cricket "Aggression does not mean tonking every ball for sixes. It's about how you understand the conditions, how you are able to maximize the conditions in your favour. And that is what aggression actually is. "We don't want to be the team that scores 250 when we're playing well and when we're not, we get out for 70. We want to be a team who understands the pitch and the conditions quickly. To assess the par score and try to make 20 runs above par," Iyer added. KKR were asked to bat first after losing the toss and decision by SRH seemed right when they took two quick wickets. Ajinkya Rahane (38) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (50) added 81 runs for the third wicket. After two quick wickets brought SRH back in game, Venkatesh Iyer (60) and Rinku Singh (32 not out) took the charge and added 91 runs for the fifth wicket and as KKR posted 200/6 in 20 overs. SRH, after losing three quick wickets, were never in the hunt. They were down six wickets for less than 100 runs and were eventually bowled out for 120 runs. SRH skipper Cummins also said that they 'have to look at other options' after their third loss in a row.

IPL 2025 | KKR's Iyer takes a dig at SRH, says 'aggression does not mean....'

<p>SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper Pat Cummins has finally acknowledged that the team will have to think about other options than going hard at every ball. The statement came after their loss against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Thursday (Apr 3) - their third defeat in a row in IPL 2025.</p>
<p>Chasing 200, SRH again lost their top three batters - Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan - inside the powerplay and could never get going after that.</p>
<p>"Not a great night tonight. In the mid-innings break, we thought it was gettable. It was a pretty good wicket. Gave away few too many in the field and obviously fell short (with the bat). You have to be realistic - three games in a row, it has not come off for us," said Cummins post loss.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-sunrisers-hyderabad-match-scorecard-kkr-vs-srh-live-match-scorecard-today-8922259">Kolkata Knight Riders vs SunRisers Hyderabad match complete scorecard</a></p>
<p>"Less than two weeks ago, we put on 280. Our batters are at our best taking it on, but you have to think about if you could take different options. Probably more (disappointed) with our fielding - a couple of catches, and a few misfields that we have to tidy up. Overall bowling was not bad, they batted well towards the end," he added.</p>
<p>KKR were asked to bat first after losing the toss and decision by SRH seemed right when they took two quick wickets. Ajinkya Rahane (38) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (50) added 81 runs for the third wicket. After two quick wickets brought SRH back in game, Venkatesh Iyer (60) and Rinku Singh (32 not out) took the charge and added 91 runs for the fifth wicket and as KKR posted 200/6 in 20 overs.</p>
<p>SRH, after losing three quick wickets, were never in the hunt. They were down six wickets for less than 100 runs and were eventually bowled out for 120 and lost the match by 80 runs.</p>
<p>SRH are now at bottom of the points table with two points after three losses and one win from four games. KKR, on the other hand, are fifth with four points from two wins and two losses from four games.</p>

SRH are now at bottom of the points table with two points after three losses and one win from four games. KKR, on the other hand, are fifth with four points from two wins and two losses from four games. Cricket Sports

SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper Pat Cummins has finally acknowledged that the team will have to think about other options than going hard at every ball. The statement came after their loss against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Thursday (Apr 3) - their third defeat in a row in IPL 2025. Chasing 200, SRH again lost their top three batters - Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan - inside the powerplay and could never get going after that. "Not a great night tonight. In the mid-innings break, we thought it was gettable. It was a pretty good wicket. Gave away few too many in the field and obviously fell short (with the bat). You have to be realistic - three games in a row, it has not come off for us," said Cummins post loss. Also Read: Kolkata Knight Riders vs SunRisers Hyderabad match complete scorecard "Less than two weeks ago, we put on 280. Our batters are at our best taking it on, but you have to think about if you could take different options. Probably more (disappointed) with our fielding - a couple of catches, and a few misfields that we have to tidy up. Overall bowling was not bad, they batted well towards the end," he added. KKR were asked to bat first after losing the toss and decision by SRH seemed right when they took two quick wickets. Ajinkya Rahane (38) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (50) added 81 runs for the third wicket. After two quick wickets brought SRH back in game, Venkatesh Iyer (60) and Rinku Singh (32 not out) took the charge and added 91 runs for the fifth wicket and as KKR posted 200/6 in 20 overs. SRH, after losing three quick wickets, were never in the hunt. They were down six wickets for less than 100 runs and were eventually bowled out for 120 and lost the match by 80 runs. SRH are now at bottom of the points table with two points after three losses and one win from four games. KKR, on the other hand, are fifth with four points from two wins and two losses from four games.

IPL 2025 | SRH skipper Cummins finally comes to senses, says 'have to think about different options' after 80 runs loss vs KKR

<p><strong>IPL 2025 KKR vs SRH </strong>- SunRisers Hyderbad's trouble grows more as they lose their third game on the trot. Kolkata Knight Riders were clinical with both bat and ball as they win the second game of the season.</p>
<p>Batting first after losing the toss, KKR had horrible start as they lost two quick wickets before Rahane and Raghuvanshi 81 runs for the third wicket. After two quick wickets, Iyer and Rinku took the charge and added 91 runs for the fifth wicket and as KKR posted 200/6 in 20 overs.</p>
<p>During the chase, SRH lost their top three quicklly again inside the powerplay. SRh could never get going again and lost six wickets for less than 100 runs. SRH were eventually bowled out for 120 and lost the match by 80 runs.</p>
<h2><strong>Kolkata Knight Riders vs SunRisers Hyderabad match scorecard</strong></h2>
<figure class="tinymce-table-div">
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 554px; height: 685.547px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 175px;"><col style="width: 193px;"><col style="width: 184px;"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"><strong>SRH - 2nd Innings</strong></td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Abhishek Sharma</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">C Iyer b Rana</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">2 (5 balls, 0x4, 0x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Travis Head</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">c Harshit b Arora</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">4 (2 balls, 1x4, 0x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Ishan Kishan</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">c Rahane b Arora</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">2 (5 balls, 0x4, 0x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Nitish Reddy</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">c Narine b Russell</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">19 (15 balls, 2x4, 1x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Kamindu Mendis</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">c Anukul (sub) b Narine</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">27 (20 balls, 1x4, 2x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">Heinrich Klaasen</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">c Ali b Arora</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">33 (21 balls, 2x4, 2x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">Aniket Verma</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">c Iyer b Varun</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">6 (6 balls, 1x4, 0x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">Pat Cummins</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">c Harshit b Varun</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">14 (15 balls, 2x4, 0x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">Harshal Patel</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">c&amp;b Russell</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">3 (5 balls, 0x4, 0x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">Simarjeet Singh</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">b Varun</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">0 (1 balls, 0x4, 0x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong><em>Mohammed Shami</em></strong></td>
<td><strong><em>not out</em></strong></td>
<td><strong><em>2 (4 balls, 0x4, 0x6)</em></strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>EXTRAS</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>8</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>5 W, 3 LB</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>Total</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>120 all out</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>16.4 overs</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>Target</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>201</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"><strong>BOWLERS (KKR)</strong></td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Vaibhav Arora</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">4-0-21-3</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Harshit Rana</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">3-0-15-1</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 54.3906px;">
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">
<p>Varun Chakaravarthy</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">4-0-22-3</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 54.3906px;">
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">
<p>Andre Russell</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">1.4-0-21-2</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 54.3906px;">
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">
<p>Sunil Narine</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">4-0-30-1</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 54.375px;">
<td style="height: 54.375px;"></td>
<td style="height: 54.375px;"></td>
<td style="height: 54.375px;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<figure class="tinymce-table-div">
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 554px; height: 573.609px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 184.667px;"><col style="width: 184.667px;"><col style="width: 184.667px;"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"><strong>KKR - 1st Innings</strong></td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Quinton de Kock</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">c Ansari b Cummins</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">1 (6 balls, 0x4, 0x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Sunil Narine</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">c Klaasen b Shami</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">7 (7 balls, 0x4, 1x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Ajinkya Rahane (c)</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">c Klaasen b Ansari</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">38 (27 balls, 1x4, 4x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Angkrish Raghuvanshi</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">c Patel b Mendis</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">50 (32 balls, 5x4, 2x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Venkatesh Iyer</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">c Verma b Patel</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">60 (29 balls, 7x4, 3x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><em><strong>Rinku Singh</strong></em></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><em><strong>not out</strong></em></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><em><strong>32 (17 balls, 4x4, 1x6)</strong></em></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">Andre Russell</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">run out (Klaasen)</td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;">1 (2 balls, 0x4, 0x6)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>Total</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>200/6</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>20 overs</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.3906px;">
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>EXTRAS</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>11</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22.3906px;"><strong>8 LB, 3 W</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"><strong>BOWLERS (SRH)</strong></td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Mohammed Shami</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">4-0-29-1</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.6094px;">
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">Pat Cummins</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;">4-0-44-1</td>
<td style="height: 29.6094px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 54.3906px;">
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">
<p>Simarjeet Singh</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">4-0-47-0</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 54.3906px;">
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">
<p>Zeeshan Ansari</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">3-0-25-1</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 54.3906px;">
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">
<p>Harshal Patel</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">4-0-43-1</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 54.3906px;">
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">
<p>Kamindu Mendis</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;">1-0-4-1</td>
<td style="height: 54.3906px;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>

IPL 2025, KKR vs SRH match scorecard: KKR, after a horrible start, have posted 200 run on the board and bowled SRH for 120 to win the match by 80 runs. Cricket Sports

IPL 2025 KKR vs SRH - SunRisers Hyderbad's trouble grows more as they lose their third game on the trot. Kolkata Knight Riders were clinical with both bat and ball as they win the second game of the season. Batting first after losing the toss, KKR had horrible start as they lost two quick wickets before Rahane and Raghuvanshi 81 runs for the third wicket. After two quick wickets, Iyer and Rinku took the charge and added 91 runs for the fifth wicket and as KKR posted 200/6 in 20 overs. During the chase, SRH lost their top three quicklly again inside the powerplay. SRh could never get going again and lost six wickets for less than 100 runs. SRH were eventually bowled out for 120 and lost the match by 80 runs. Kolkata Knight Riders vs SunRisers Hyderabad match scorecard SRH - 2nd Innings Abhishek Sharma C Iyer b Rana 2 (5 balls, 0x4, 0x6) Travis Head c Harshit b Arora 4 (2 balls, 1x4, 0x6) Ishan Kishan c Rahane b Arora 2 (5 balls, 0x4, 0x6) Nitish Reddy c Narine b Russell 19 (15 balls, 2x4, 1x6) Kamindu Mendis c Anukul (sub) b Narine 27 (20 balls, 1x4, 2x6) Heinrich Klaasen c Ali b Arora 33 (21 balls, 2x4, 2x6) Aniket Verma c Iyer b Varun 6 (6 balls, 1x4, 0x6) Pat Cummins c Harshit b Varun 14 (15 balls, 2x4, 0x6) Harshal Patel c&b Russell 3 (5 balls, 0x4, 0x6) Simarjeet Singh b Varun 0 (1 balls, 0x4, 0x6) Mohammed Shami not out 2 (4 balls, 0x4, 0x6) EXTRAS 8 5 W, 3 LB Total 120 all out 16.4 overs Target 201 BOWLERS (KKR) Vaibhav Arora 4-0-21-3 Harshit Rana 3-0-15-1 Varun Chakaravarthy 4-0-22-3 Andre Russell 1.4-0-21-2 Sunil Narine 4-0-30-1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KKR - 1st Innings Quinton de Kock c Ansari b Cummins 1 (6 balls, 0x4, 0x6) Sunil Narine c Klaasen b Shami 7 (7 balls, 0x4, 1x6) Ajinkya Rahane (c) c Klaasen b Ansari 38 (27 balls, 1x4, 4x6) Angkrish Raghuvanshi c Patel b Mendis 50 (32 balls, 5x4, 2x6) Venkatesh Iyer c Verma b Patel 60 (29 balls, 7x4, 3x6) Rinku Singh not out 32 (17 balls, 4x4, 1x6) Andre Russell run out (Klaasen) 1 (2 balls, 0x4, 0x6) Total 200/6 20 overs EXTRAS 11 8 LB, 3 W BOWLERS (SRH) Mohammed Shami 4-0-29-1 Pat Cummins 4-0-44-1 Simarjeet Singh 4-0-47-0 Zeeshan Ansari 3-0-25-1 Harshal Patel 4-0-43-1 Kamindu Mendis 1-0-4-1

IPL 2025 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs SunRisers Hyderabad match complete scorecard- KKR beat SRH by 80 runs

<p>As Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) prepare to take on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunrisers-hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> (SRH) in their upcoming IPL 2025 fixture, team mentor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/dwayne-bravo">Dwayne Bravo</a> addressed the media, discussing the team&rsquo;s morale, player form, and evolving trends in the tournament. Despite two losses in three games, Bravo remains confident in the squad&rsquo;s ability to bounce back, emphasising resilience and smart cricket as key aspects of their approach.</p>
<p>On being asked about the team&rsquo;s mindset following their recent defeats, Bravo reassured that the focus remains on staying positive. "The message will always be from my side and from the coaching group to make sure that our morale and energy remain in a positive place. It&rsquo;s still early in the tournament, and we are looking ahead rather than dwelling on past results. Our main focus is to bounce back and control the things we can, starting with the next game," he said.</p>
<p>With SRH featuring some effective bowlers, Bravo acknowledged the importance of preparation but stressed that KKR would not overanalyse individual threats. "Our batsmen go through opposition bowlers like we do in every game. But we also believe in trusting our skills, instincts, and understanding the tempo of the game. While we respect our opponents, we also trust our ability to counter them," he explained.</p>
<p>South African pacer Anrich Nortje's fitness remains a key concern for KKR. While Bravo refrained from providing a definitive timeline for his return, he assured that the bowler is close to match fitness. "He&rsquo;s very close. But it&rsquo;s also about finding the right combination for the opposition we face. From a fitness perspective, he&rsquo;s almost ready," Bravo said.</p>
<h2>KKR&rsquo;s batting struggles</h2>
<p>Despite boasting an explosive batting line-up, KKR&rsquo;s batting unit has yet to find consistency. Bravo admitted that while the firepower is there, the team needs to apply themselves better. "Yes, we have an aggressive batting line-up, but cricket still requires basics. The games we lose serve as learning experiences. Our goal is to simplify the approach and get back to playing smart T20 cricket," he shared.</p>
<p>When questioned about the performances of key finishers like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/andre-russell">Andre Russell</a> and Rinku Singh, Bravo dismissed early concerns. "You don&rsquo;t judge players based on two games. They have proven themselves over the years. We will continue to back them, reminding them of their past successes," he said.</p>
<p>With debates surrounding the impact of home advantage in T20 cricket, Bravo downplayed the role of pitches, instead highlighting the significance of fan support. "I don&rsquo;t focus much on pitches. The better team on the day wins. What matters more is the energy the fans bring. They play a huge role in lifting the players," he said.</p>
<h2>'Bowlers have to outthink batters'</h2>
<p>Bravo, a veteran of the IPL, also reflected on the shift in T20 dynamics, noting the reduced value placed on batsmanship. "In recent years, there has been a boom in scoring, but now bowlers are getting smarter. They have to outthink batters and be brave. Meanwhile, batsmen seem to value their wickets less, thinking they can always recover due to deep batting line-ups and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/impact-player-rule">Impact Player rule</a>. That&rsquo;s why scores are beginning to drop," he observed.</p>
<p>Despite early setbacks, Bravo remains optimistic about KKR&rsquo;s campaign. "We are not the only team in this position. Once we get smarter in key situations, we will be fine. Our players are all quality cricketers. It&rsquo;s just a matter of time before they regain their confidence and start winning games," he signed off.</p>

Cricket, Sports: Team mentor Bravo remains confident in the squad’s ability to bounce back, emphasising resilience and smart cricket as key aspects of their approach

As Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) prepare to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their upcoming IPL 2025 fixture, team mentor Dwayne Bravo addressed the media, discussing the team’s morale, player form, and evolving trends in the tournament. Despite two losses in three games, Bravo remains confident in the squad’s ability to bounce back, emphasising resilience and smart cricket as key aspects of their approach. On being asked about the team’s mindset following their recent defeats, Bravo reassured that the focus remains on staying positive. "The message will always be from my side and from the coaching group to make sure that our morale and energy remain in a positive place. It’s still early in the tournament, and we are looking ahead rather than dwelling on past results. Our main focus is to bounce back and control the things we can, starting with the next game," he said. With SRH featuring some effective bowlers, Bravo acknowledged the importance of preparation but stressed that KKR would not overanalyse individual threats. "Our batsmen go through opposition bowlers like we do in every game. But we also believe in trusting our skills, instincts, and understanding the tempo of the game. While we respect our opponents, we also trust our ability to counter them," he explained. South African pacer Anrich Nortje's fitness remains a key concern for KKR. While Bravo refrained from providing a definitive timeline for his return, he assured that the bowler is close to match fitness. "He’s very close. But it’s also about finding the right combination for the opposition we face. From a fitness perspective, he’s almost ready," Bravo said. KKR’s batting struggles Despite boasting an explosive batting line-up, KKR’s batting unit has yet to find consistency. Bravo admitted that while the firepower is there, the team needs to apply themselves better. "Yes, we have an aggressive batting line-up, but cricket still requires basics. The games we lose serve as learning experiences. Our goal is to simplify the approach and get back to playing smart T20 cricket," he shared. When questioned about the performances of key finishers like Andre Russell and Rinku Singh, Bravo dismissed early concerns. "You don’t judge players based on two games. They have proven themselves over the years. We will continue to back them, reminding them of their past successes," he said. With debates surrounding the impact of home advantage in T20 cricket, Bravo downplayed the role of pitches, instead highlighting the significance of fan support. "I don’t focus much on pitches. The better team on the day wins. What matters more is the energy the fans bring. They play a huge role in lifting the players," he said. 'Bowlers have to outthink batters' Bravo, a veteran of the IPL, also reflected on the shift in T20 dynamics, noting the reduced value placed on batsmanship. "In recent years, there has been a boom in scoring, but now bowlers are getting smarter. They have to outthink batters and be brave. Meanwhile, batsmen seem to value their wickets less, thinking they can always recover due to deep batting line-ups and the Impact Player rule. That’s why scores are beginning to drop," he observed. Despite early setbacks, Bravo remains optimistic about KKR’s campaign. "We are not the only team in this position. Once we get smarter in key situations, we will be fine. Our players are all quality cricketers. It’s just a matter of time before they regain their confidence and start winning games," he signed off.

IPL 2025: 'The value for batsmanship is no longer there', says KKR's mentor Dwayne Bravo ahead of their clash against SRH

<p>Ryan Rickelton stood at the non-striker&rsquo;s end, stunned, as he watched Suryakumar Yadav pull off his trademark shot&mdash;one he has no intention of attempting himself. During Mumbai Indians' clash against Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) 2025 at Wankhede Stadium on Monday (March 31), Suryakumar made an impact with a blistering cameo towards the end.</p>
<p>In a low-scoring encounter, Mumbai were set a modest target of 117 by KKR. By the time Suryakumar arrived at the crease, Rickelton had already done the heavy lifting. However, on just his second delivery of the night, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/suryakumar-yadav">Suryakumar Yadav</a> effortlessly showcased his signature stroke&mdash;shuffling across the stumps and scooping the ball over fine-leg for a massive six.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I just told Quinny (Quinton de Kock) that SKY is a joke! He does things I can&rsquo;t even dream of. He&rsquo;s played that shot multiple times, but I&rsquo;m not going to try it. I&rsquo;m just glad he&rsquo;s on our team,&rdquo; Rickelton said after the match.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohli-joining-sydney-sixers-in-big-bash-league-viral-social-media-post-sends-shockwaves-8913213">Virat Kohli joining Sydney Sixers in Big Bash League? Viral social media post sends shockwaves</a></strong></p>
<h2>'I was lucky to get some runs'</h2>
<p>Playing his maiden IPL season, Rickelton initially struggled to adapt to Indian conditions, managing just 13(7) and 6(9) in his first two outings. However, returning to Wankhede gave him a chance to reassess. After researching the pitch conditions, he arrived better prepared, anchoring Mumbai&rsquo;s chase with an unbeaten 62 off 41 balls&mdash;featuring the most boundaries and sixes across both teams.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I took my time. I just had to put bat to ball. The ball was moving around, and I was lucky to get some runs. I had been chatting with folks back in South Africa about Wankhede&mdash;how it challenges batters. But I&rsquo;m looking forward to using the pace on offer. The atmosphere was unbelievable, with the crowd turning the stadium blue. I&rsquo;m definitely going to enjoy my time here,&rdquo; he added.</p>
<p>Before MI&rsquo;s batters wrapped up the game, their bowlers had set the stage for an eight-wicket triumph. Debutant Ashwani Kumar dazzled on his IPL debut, dismantling KKR&rsquo;s lineup with a remarkable four-wicket haul, returning figures of 4/24. His scalps included seasoned campaigners like skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</a>, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and power-hitter Andre Russell.</p>
<p>While Ashwani starred, Mumbai&rsquo;s other bowlers played their part in restricting KKR to a paltry 116. &ldquo;I think the bowlers executed the plans brilliantly. The conditions demanded tactical adjustments, and the spinners bowled in the right areas. Keeping such a strong team to a low score was phenomenal,&rdquo; Rickelton concluded.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: In a low-scoring encounter, MI were set a target of 117 by KKR. By the time SKY came to the crease, Rickelton had already done the heavy lifting

Ryan Rickelton stood at the non-striker’s end, stunned, as he watched Suryakumar Yadav pull off his trademark shot—one he has no intention of attempting himself. During Mumbai Indians' clash against Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at Wankhede Stadium on Monday (March 31), Suryakumar made an impact with a blistering cameo towards the end. In a low-scoring encounter, Mumbai were set a modest target of 117 by KKR. By the time Suryakumar arrived at the crease, Rickelton had already done the heavy lifting. However, on just his second delivery of the night, Suryakumar Yadav effortlessly showcased his signature stroke—shuffling across the stumps and scooping the ball over fine-leg for a massive six. “I just told Quinny (Quinton de Kock) that SKY is a joke! He does things I can’t even dream of. He’s played that shot multiple times, but I’m not going to try it. I’m just glad he’s on our team,” Rickelton said after the match. Also Read: Virat Kohli joining Sydney Sixers in Big Bash League? Viral social media post sends shockwaves 'I was lucky to get some runs' Playing his maiden IPL season, Rickelton initially struggled to adapt to Indian conditions, managing just 13(7) and 6(9) in his first two outings. However, returning to Wankhede gave him a chance to reassess. After researching the pitch conditions, he arrived better prepared, anchoring Mumbai’s chase with an unbeaten 62 off 41 balls—featuring the most boundaries and sixes across both teams. “I took my time. I just had to put bat to ball. The ball was moving around, and I was lucky to get some runs. I had been chatting with folks back in South Africa about Wankhede—how it challenges batters. But I’m looking forward to using the pace on offer. The atmosphere was unbelievable, with the crowd turning the stadium blue. I’m definitely going to enjoy my time here,” he added. Before MI’s batters wrapped up the game, their bowlers had set the stage for an eight-wicket triumph. Debutant Ashwani Kumar dazzled on his IPL debut, dismantling KKR’s lineup with a remarkable four-wicket haul, returning figures of 4/24. His scalps included seasoned campaigners like skipper Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and power-hitter Andre Russell. While Ashwani starred, Mumbai’s other bowlers played their part in restricting KKR to a paltry 116. “I think the bowlers executed the plans brilliantly. The conditions demanded tactical adjustments, and the spinners bowled in the right areas. Keeping such a strong team to a low score was phenomenal,” Rickelton concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'SKY is a joke...' MI's Rickelton stunned by Suryakumar's trademark shot

<p>After 10 days of cricket in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Mumbai Indians remain the only team to open their account. MI have lost both their matches so far in the league as they face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday (Mar 31) at Wankhede stadium.</p>
<p>KKR, who are the defending champions, have 50-50 record in the two games played so far and would be hoping to build on the momentum against a struggling Mumbai Indians side.</p>
<h2><strong>MI vs KKR, Today match prediction:</strong></h2>
<p>Last season, Mumbai won the toss five times at Wankhede but managed to win only two games as they chased in all of those games. They scored 32 runs on an average for each wicket with a highest of 199.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Also Read: <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2025-doesnt-make-sense-says-india-batter-on-srh-hard-hitting-batting-style-after-two-consecutive-losses-8909239" aria-label="IPL 2025: 'Doesn't make sense', says India batter on SRH's hard-hitting batting style after two consecutive losses">IPL 2025: 'Doesn't make sense', says India batter on SRH's hard-hitting batting style after two consecutive losses</a></p>
<p>A year before that, in 2023, they had the best averages runs per wicket in a season at Wankhede - 46 - as they won three out of four games after winning the toss and electing to bowl.</p>
<p>So it seems safe to say that they'll be choosing to bowl first at their home ground if they win the toss and back themselves to chase the target.</p>
<p>Wankhede also has shorter boundaries and a high-scoring fest is pretty much on the cards but Mumbai would be hoping for their batters to join the part soon as asked by their skipper Hardik Pandya after the last loss.</p>
<p>KKR, on the other hand, snapped their losing streak at Wankhede last season when they won the match by 24 runs. Before the win last season, KKR had not won a game at Wankhede since 2016.</p>
<p>KKR have poor record in both batting and fielding first at Wankhede - they have lost eight out of 10 games while batting first but managed slightly better with fielding first - losing four and winning three matches.</p>
<p>If won the loss, they'd hopefully go with batting second while MI might do that same as they have won 24 games while batting first and 27 while batting second.</p>

MI vs KKR, Today match prediction: MI have lost both their matches so far in the league as they face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday (Mar 31) at Wankhede stadium. Cricket Sports

After 10 days of cricket in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Mumbai Indians remain the only team to open their account. MI have lost both their matches so far in the league as they face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday (Mar 31) at Wankhede stadium. KKR, who are the defending champions, have 50-50 record in the two games played so far and would be hoping to build on the momentum against a struggling Mumbai Indians side. MI vs KKR, Today match prediction: Last season, Mumbai won the toss five times at Wankhede but managed to win only two games as they chased in all of those games. They scored 32 runs on an average for each wicket with a highest of 199. Also Read: IPL 2025: 'Doesn't make sense', says India batter on SRH's hard-hitting batting style after two consecutive losses A year before that, in 2023, they had the best averages runs per wicket in a season at Wankhede - 46 - as they won three out of four games after winning the toss and electing to bowl. So it seems safe to say that they'll be choosing to bowl first at their home ground if they win the toss and back themselves to chase the target. Wankhede also has shorter boundaries and a high-scoring fest is pretty much on the cards but Mumbai would be hoping for their batters to join the part soon as asked by their skipper Hardik Pandya after the last loss. KKR, on the other hand, snapped their losing streak at Wankhede last season when they won the match by 24 runs. Before the win last season, KKR had not won a game at Wankhede since 2016. KKR have poor record in both batting and fielding first at Wankhede - they have lost eight out of 10 games while batting first but managed slightly better with fielding first - losing four and winning three matches. If won the loss, they'd hopefully go with batting second while MI might do that same as they have won 24 games while batting first and 27 while batting second.

IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Match Prediction

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

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

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

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

<p>The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the rescheduling of Match No. 19 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lucknow-super-giants">Lucknow Super Giants</a> (LSG). Originally set for Sunday, April 6, at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/eden-gardens">Eden Gardens</a>, Kolkata, the match will now take place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 3:30 PM IST.</p>
<p>The decision comes following a request from Kolkata Police to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) regarding personnel deployment across the city due to Ram Navami festivities. As a result, April 6 will now feature only one match, with Sunrisers Hyderabad hosting Gujarat Titans at 7:30 PM IST (Match No. 20), as originally scheduled.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The decision follows a request from Kolkata Police to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) regarding the deployment of personnel across the city owing to festivities,&rdquo; the BCCI said in a press release.</p>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-msd-surpasses-suresh-raina-to-become-csks-highest-run-scorer-8902594">IPL 2025: MSD surpasses Suresh Raina to become CSK's highest run-scorer</a></strong></p>
<h2>Mixed start for KKR, LSG</h2>
<p>With this adjustment, April 8 becomes a double-header match day. The rescheduled KKR vs. LSG match will be played in the afternoon at Eden Gardens, followed by Punjab Kings taking on Chennai Super Kings (Match No. 22) in New Chandigarh in the evening, as per the original fixture.</p>
<p>Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Snehashish Ganguly, brother of batting legend and former India and KKR captain Sourav Ganguly, had recently too had urged the BCCI to reschedule the match.</p>
<p>Both <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> and Lucknow Super Giants have had mixed starts to their IPL 2025 campaigns.</p>
<p>Defending champions KKR lost their opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru by seven wickets at Eden Gardens but bounced back with a six-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. Meanwhile, LSG suffered a dramatic last-over defeat to Delhi Capitals, who chased down 210, before securing a dominant win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, chasing 191 with 23 balls to spare at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: The decision follows a request from Kolkata Police to the CAB regarding the deployment of personnel across the city owing to festivities of Ram Navami

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the rescheduling of Match No. 19 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Originally set for Sunday, April 6, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, the match will now take place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 3:30 PM IST. The decision comes following a request from Kolkata Police to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) regarding personnel deployment across the city due to Ram Navami festivities. As a result, April 6 will now feature only one match, with Sunrisers Hyderabad hosting Gujarat Titans at 7:30 PM IST (Match No. 20), as originally scheduled. “The decision follows a request from Kolkata Police to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) regarding the deployment of personnel across the city owing to festivities,” the BCCI said in a press release. Also Read: IPL 2025: MSD surpasses Suresh Raina to become CSK's highest run-scorer Mixed start for KKR, LSG With this adjustment, April 8 becomes a double-header match day. The rescheduled KKR vs. LSG match will be played in the afternoon at Eden Gardens, followed by Punjab Kings taking on Chennai Super Kings (Match No. 22) in New Chandigarh in the evening, as per the original fixture. Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Snehashish Ganguly, brother of batting legend and former India and KKR captain Sourav Ganguly, had recently too had urged the BCCI to reschedule the match. Both Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants have had mixed starts to their IPL 2025 campaigns. Defending champions KKR lost their opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru by seven wickets at Eden Gardens but bounced back with a six-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. Meanwhile, LSG suffered a dramatic last-over defeat to Delhi Capitals, who chased down 210, before securing a dominant win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, chasing 191 with 23 balls to spare at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: KKR vs LSG rescheduled to April 8 owing to Ram Navami festivities

<p>Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Moeen Ali was given a difficult task to replace ailing Sunil Narine for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday (Mar 26). KKR had already lost their opening match and were desperate to kickstart their campaign and Ali played his part to perfection.</p>
<p>The all-rounder, who bowled only 48 balls entire last season for CSK, delivered a sensational spell of 2/23 in four overs and ably supported Varun Chakaravarthy who himself finished with 2/17 in four overs. The two spinners stifled Royals for a modest score of 151/9 in 20 overs.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-ravindra-jadeja-demotion-in-bccis-annual-central-contract-list-report-8896602" aria-label="BCCI to take massive call on star Indian trio as annual central contract list announcement looms">BCCI to take massive call on star Indian trio as annual central contract list announcement looms</a></p>
<p>Ali, however, acknowledged that his role was to contain as he doesn't have skills like other bowlers and the all-rounder did his job extremely well in KKR's eight-wicket win.</p>
<p>"I don't have the skill as other bowlers, but my job is to contain as much as I can. I think my skill is that I think like a batter. So a lot of the time I'm trying to think what they think and it works in my favour," said Ali in his post-match press conference.</p>
<p>"You're just waiting for your turn and when the chance comes, you try and take it as much as you can. But on some wickets like today, I probably used my experience as much as I could to actually keep it simple, keep the stumps in play, keep the line to the left-handers in particular quite straight and just try and spin the ball," he said about his inclusion in the final XI.</p>
<p>KKR chased the target 17.3 overs as Quinton de Kock top scored with 97 not out of 61 balls, hitting six sixes and eight fours.</p>
<p>KKR next play Mumbai Indians on March 31 while Royals face CSK day prior to KKR's match.</p>

Ali, who bowled only 48 balls entire last season for CSK, delivered a sensational spell of 2/23 in four overs and ably supported Varun in KKR's win vs RR. Cricket Sports

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Moeen Ali was given a difficult task to replace ailing Sunil Narine for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday (Mar 26). KKR had already lost their opening match and were desperate to kickstart their campaign and Ali played his part to perfection. The all-rounder, who bowled only 48 balls entire last season for CSK, delivered a sensational spell of 2/23 in four overs and ably supported Varun Chakaravarthy who himself finished with 2/17 in four overs. The two spinners stifled Royals for a modest score of 151/9 in 20 overs. Also Read: BCCI to take massive call on star Indian trio as annual central contract list announcement looms Ali, however, acknowledged that his role was to contain as he doesn't have skills like other bowlers and the all-rounder did his job extremely well in KKR's eight-wicket win. "I don't have the skill as other bowlers, but my job is to contain as much as I can. I think my skill is that I think like a batter. So a lot of the time I'm trying to think what they think and it works in my favour," said Ali in his post-match press conference. "You're just waiting for your turn and when the chance comes, you try and take it as much as you can. But on some wickets like today, I probably used my experience as much as I could to actually keep it simple, keep the stumps in play, keep the line to the left-handers in particular quite straight and just try and spin the ball," he said about his inclusion in the final XI. KKR chased the target 17.3 overs as Quinton de Kock top scored with 97 not out of 61 balls, hitting six sixes and eight fours. KKR next play Mumbai Indians on March 31 while Royals face CSK day prior to KKR's match.

IPL 2025: 'I don't have the skill...' says KKR's all-rounder Moeen Ali after match-winning performance vs Royals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<p>Bollywood superstar and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> (KKR) co-owner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shah-rukh-khan">Shah Rukh Khan</a> extended his best wishes to the team ahead of their IPL 2025 opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).</p>
<p>In a video shared by KKR&rsquo;s official Instagram handle, SRK was seen personally greeting each player in the dressing room. He warmly embraced them and said, &ldquo;God bless you. Please be healthy, be happy. And thank you, Chandu sir, for looking after them. Welcome aboard to the new members. Thank you, Ajinkya, for joining us and being a captain. God bless you, and I hope you will find a good home here and play well with all of us. Have a good evening, a good match, and be healthy.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The post was captioned, "King Khan ka pyaar, Knights ke naam. Shahrukh Khan | #AmiKKR | #TATAIPL2025 | #KKRvRCB."</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-heres-what-ipl-chairman-said-about-cash-rich-league-happening-in-saudi-arabia-8879549">IPL 2025 | Here's what IPL chairman said about cash-rich league happening in Saudi Arabia</a></strong></p>
<h2><strong>See the video here:</strong></h2>
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<p>SRK arrived in Kolkata on Friday (March 21) evening to attend the grand IPL 2025 opening ceremony at Eden Gardens. Dressed in a white T-shirt and denim jeans, he made a stylish entrance, greeting his fans at the airport with waves and flying kisses.</p>
<p>The match between KKR and RCB revives memories of the IPL 2008 opener, where Brendon McCullum&rsquo;s historic 158-run knock set the tournament alight. Both teams enter IPL 2025 with new captains&mdash;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</a> leading KKR and Rajat Patidar at the helm for RCB.</p>
<p>Spin bowling is expected to play a key role, with KKR boasting experienced spinners like Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, supported by Moeen Ali and Anukul Roy. RCB counters with Krunal Pandya leading their spin attack, alongside Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and former KKR player Suyash Sharma.</p>
<p>Both teams also feature explosive batting line-ups. RCB&rsquo;s squad includes Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, and Jitesh Sharma. KKR, on the other hand, has Quinton de Kock, Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, and Venkatesh Iyer in their ranks.</p>
<p><strong>Squads:</strong><br><strong>KKR:</strong> Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer (vc), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Quinton de Kock (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mayank Markande, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia (wk), Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Moeen Ali, Chetan Sakariya, Spencer Johnson.</p>
<p><strong>RCB:</strong> Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Swastik Chikara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Philip Salt, Manoj Bhandage, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Mohit Rathee, Abhinandan Singh.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Sports, Cricket: The match between KKR and RCB revives memories of the IPL 2008 opener, where Brendon McCullum’s historic 158-run knock set the tournament alight

Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan extended his best wishes to the team ahead of their IPL 2025 opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). In a video shared by KKR’s official Instagram handle, SRK was seen personally greeting each player in the dressing room. He warmly embraced them and said, “God bless you. Please be healthy, be happy. And thank you, Chandu sir, for looking after them. Welcome aboard to the new members. Thank you, Ajinkya, for joining us and being a captain. God bless you, and I hope you will find a good home here and play well with all of us. Have a good evening, a good match, and be healthy.” The post was captioned, "King Khan ka pyaar, Knights ke naam. Shahrukh Khan | #AmiKKR | #TATAIPL2025 | #KKRvRCB." Also Read: IPL 2025 | Here's what IPL chairman said about cash-rich league happening in Saudi Arabia See the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kolkata Knight Riders (@kkriders) SRK arrived in Kolkata on Friday (March 21) evening to attend the grand IPL 2025 opening ceremony at Eden Gardens. Dressed in a white T-shirt and denim jeans, he made a stylish entrance, greeting his fans at the airport with waves and flying kisses. The match between KKR and RCB revives memories of the IPL 2008 opener, where Brendon McCullum’s historic 158-run knock set the tournament alight. Both teams enter IPL 2025 with new captains—Ajinkya Rahane leading KKR and Rajat Patidar at the helm for RCB. Spin bowling is expected to play a key role, with KKR boasting experienced spinners like Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, supported by Moeen Ali and Anukul Roy. RCB counters with Krunal Pandya leading their spin attack, alongside Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and former KKR player Suyash Sharma. Both teams also feature explosive batting line-ups. RCB’s squad includes Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, and Jitesh Sharma. KKR, on the other hand, has Quinton de Kock, Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, and Venkatesh Iyer in their ranks. Squads: KKR: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer (vc), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Quinton de Kock (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mayank Markande, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia (wk), Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Moeen Ali, Chetan Sakariya, Spencer Johnson. RCB: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Swastik Chikara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Philip Salt, Manoj Bhandage, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Mohit Rathee, Abhinandan Singh. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025 | King Khan’s Pep Talk to KKR: God Bless You, be healthy and play well

<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 data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span>As Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) prepare for the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) season, vice-captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/venkatesh-iyer">Venkatesh Iyer</a> is eager to play under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane. With Shreyas Iyer moving to Punjab Kings (PBKS), Rahane has taken charge of the squad, and his influence is already being felt within the team.</span></p>
<p><span>"So far, he has been an amazing leader. He has taken the initiative to connect with all of us and build camaraderie within the team. We are talking about someone who has led India across formats and captained IPL teams before. He remains composed under pressure and has been a stalwart of the game, scoring runs everywhere. For me, it's going to be a great learning experience, and I am excited to play under him," Venkatesh said.</span></p>
<p><span><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-once-a-teammate-of-virat-kohli-in-u19-world-cup-tanmay-srivastava-now-joins-ipl-as-umpire-8870110">IPL 2025 | Once a teammate of Virat Kohli in U19 World Cup, Tanmay Srivastava now joins IPL as umpire</a></strong></span></p>
<h2><span>'I have always carried myself as a leader'</span></h2>
<p><span>Having been a part of KKR for a few years, Venkatesh now steps into the role of vice-captain. When asked about his preparation for this added responsibility, he said, "There is no specific preparation for it. I have always carried myself as a leader, so it's not entirely new to me. I have worked hard on both my batting and bowling. More than anything, it's about mindset&mdash;once you accept the role and embrace the responsibility, half the job is already done. Our preparation has been solid, and we have a strong group of players. I'm really looking forward to the season."</span></p>
<p><span>Despite his leadership role, Venkatesh revealed that he hasn&rsquo;t had direct conversations with former KKR captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a> or mentor Gautam Gambhir about leading the team.</span></p>
<p><span>As the IPL season approaches, Venkatesh Iyer is ready to take on his role as vice-captain and contribute to KKR&rsquo;s campaign. Under the leadership of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</a>, he believes the team is in good hands and is eager to make an impact both on and off the field.</span></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Sports, Cricket: With Shreyas Iyer moving to Punjab Kings (PBKS), Rahane has taken charge of the squad, and his influence is already being felt within the team

As Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) prepare for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer is eager to play under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane. With Shreyas Iyer moving to Punjab Kings (PBKS), Rahane has taken charge of the squad, and his influence is already being felt within the team. "So far, he has been an amazing leader. He has taken the initiative to connect with all of us and build camaraderie within the team. We are talking about someone who has led India across formats and captained IPL teams before. He remains composed under pressure and has been a stalwart of the game, scoring runs everywhere. For me, it's going to be a great learning experience, and I am excited to play under him," Venkatesh said. Also Read: IPL 2025 | Once a teammate of Virat Kohli in U19 World Cup, Tanmay Srivastava now joins IPL as umpire 'I have always carried myself as a leader' Having been a part of KKR for a few years, Venkatesh now steps into the role of vice-captain. When asked about his preparation for this added responsibility, he said, "There is no specific preparation for it. I have always carried myself as a leader, so it's not entirely new to me. I have worked hard on both my batting and bowling. More than anything, it's about mindset—once you accept the role and embrace the responsibility, half the job is already done. Our preparation has been solid, and we have a strong group of players. I'm really looking forward to the season." Despite his leadership role, Venkatesh revealed that he hasn’t had direct conversations with former KKR captain Shreyas Iyer or mentor Gautam Gambhir about leading the team. As the IPL season approaches, Venkatesh Iyer is ready to take on his role as vice-captain and contribute to KKR’s campaign. Under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, he believes the team is in good hands and is eager to make an impact both on and off the field. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'Rahane’s leadership is inspiring, says KKR's vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad embraced the festive spirit of Holi at the team hotel, celebrating the festival of colours with enthusiasm on Friday (Mar 14). The players and support staff took a break from their rigorous pre-season preparations to indulge in traditional Holi celebrations, exchanging colours, laughter, and camaraderie.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Same same but different 💜😍 <a href="https://t.co/ewPXfwLIyB">pic.twitter.com/ewPXfwLIyB</a></p>
&mdash; KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders/status/1900526450190500237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>KKR celebrate Holi</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Amidst a splash of bright hues, KKR stars including Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi were seen enjoying the festivities, smearing colours on each other. Also present during the celebrations were members of the coaching staff, including head coach Chandrakant Pandit and spin bowling coach Carl Crowe. The joyous occasion showcased the strong bond within the team and the high spirits ahead of the upcoming season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22 at the iconic Eden Gardens.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Delhi Capitals squad, currently in New Delhi for their IPL 2025 preseason camp also celebrated Holi at their team hotel. The celebration came just hours after DC announced Axar Patel as their new captain for the new season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/jasprit-bumrah-injury-update-latest-news-blow-for-mumbai-indians-as-pacer-ruled-out-of-first-few-ipl-2025-games-8852847" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Jasprit Bumrah injury update: Blow for Mumbai Indians as pacer ruled out of first few IPL 2025 games</a></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The 31-year-old joined the Capitals in 2019 and has since emerged as one of the top-performing players for the franchise across the six seasons with his ability to step up to the occasion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In the 82 matches he has donned the red and blue for the Capitals, Patel has scored 967 runs and picked up 62 wickets at an impressive economy of 7.09. Apart from being a live wire on the field, the all-rounder has also developed a special rapport with the Capitals&rsquo; and the Indian national team&rsquo;s fans.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Punjab Kings team too celebrated the festival of colour Holi on Friday, during their IPL 2025 pre-season training camp at HPCA stadium, Dharamsala.</p>

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

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

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

<p>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - the IPL 2024 winners, mulls replacing Gautam Gambhir with Jacques Kallis as the new team mentor. Following switching bases from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to KKR ahead of the last season, Gambhir was instrumental in helping the team lift the trophy for the third time.</p>

<p>However, soon after tasting success with the franchise he captained before, Gautam took over the Team India head coach role, replacing Rahul Dravid.</p>

<p>Though his role runs until December 2027, Gambhir taking along Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, who was also part of KKR’s backroom staff, is a bigger issue to resolve for the franchise. With Chandrakant Pandit continuing as KKR’s head coach, they seek a new mentor.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bangladesh-tests-bound-akash-deep-credits-mohammed-shami-for-duleep-trophy-first-round-success-757019">Bangladesh Tests-bound Akash Deep credits Mohammed Shami for Duleep Trophy first-round success</a></strong></p>

<p>Per a report in the Hindustan Times, KKR is mulling over bringing their former two-time IPL champion Kallis back into the coaching staff. Kallis, regarded as the greatest modern-day all-rounder, played for a few seasons for KKR before being appointed as their mentor in 2015 and head coach in 2016, replacing Trevor Bayliss.</p>

<p>Besides, the other contenders KKR is considering are former Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting and Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Operations Kumar Sangakkara.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ponting left his job as DC head coach following IPL 2024, while Sangakkara’s RR appointed Rahul Dravid as their new head coach. Ponting, however, expressed his interest in coaching an IPL franchise sooner.</p>

<h2>BCCI yet to release revised IPL auction rules</h2>

<p>Following a high-profile meeting that included owners and stakeholders of all ten IPL teams, where everyone shared their thoughts on the retention list and Right to Match (RTM) card, the BCCI has yet to release the revised rules.</p>

<p>Per the previous rules exercised during the last mega auction in 2022, each team had four retentions, with the IPL council and BCCI removing the RTM card then.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, ahead of the next mega auction, scheduled for December 2024,&nbsp;the ones&nbsp;having their bases set and tasted success have pushed for more retentions, somewhere around six or seven, while others have opted for no retentions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Though the board might not consider this idea, the BCCI might settle around three or four retentions, excluding an RTM card.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BCCI could make the verdict public anytime soon. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - the IPL 2024 winners, mulls replacing Gautam Gambhir with Jacques Kallis as the new team mentor. Following switching bases from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to KKR ahead of the last season, Gambhir was instrumental in helping the team lift the trophy for the third time.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - the IPL 2024 winners, mulls replacing Gautam Gambhir with Jacques Kallis as the new team mentor. Following switching bases from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to KKR ahead of the last season, Gambhir was instrumental in helping the team lift the trophy for the third time. However, soon after tasting success with the franchise he captained before, Gautam took over the Team India head coach role, replacing Rahul Dravid. Though his role runs until December 2027, Gambhir taking along Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, who was also part of KKR’s backroom staff, is a bigger issue to resolve for the franchise. With Chandrakant Pandit continuing as KKR’s head coach, they seek a new mentor. ALSO READ: Bangladesh Tests-bound Akash Deep credits Mohammed Shami for Duleep Trophy first-round success Per a report in the Hindustan Times, KKR is mulling over bringing their former two-time IPL champion Kallis back into the coaching staff. Kallis, regarded as the greatest modern-day all-rounder, played for a few seasons for KKR before being appointed as their mentor in 2015 and head coach in 2016, replacing Trevor Bayliss. Besides, the other contenders KKR is considering are former Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting and Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Operations Kumar Sangakkara. Ponting left his job as DC head coach following IPL 2024, while Sangakkara’s RR appointed Rahul Dravid as their new head coach. Ponting, however, expressed his interest in coaching an IPL franchise sooner. BCCI yet to release revised IPL auction rules Following a high-profile meeting that included owners and stakeholders of all ten IPL teams, where everyone shared their thoughts on the retention list and Right to Match (RTM) card, the BCCI has yet to release the revised rules. Per the previous rules exercised during the last mega auction in 2022, each team had four retentions, with the IPL council and BCCI removing the RTM card then. However, ahead of the next mega auction, scheduled for December 2024, the ones having their bases set and tasted success have pushed for more retentions, somewhere around six or seven, while others have opted for no retentions. Though the board might not consider this idea, the BCCI might settle around three or four retentions, excluding an RTM card. The BCCI could make the verdict public anytime soon. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL: KKR mulls replacing Gautam Gambhir with Jacques Kallis as team mentor – Reports

<p>Gautam Gambhir is rumoured to take over as the Indian senior men's team&nbsp;coach from their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, later this month. Ever since his name started doing the rounds for the top post, he has emerged as a strong contender to take over from Rahul Dravid (who signed off with India's T20 World Cup win in West Indies and USA on June 29). Reportedly, Gambhir recently shot a farewell video with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp, in Kolkata, to sign off as their mentor with talks intensifying for him to succeed Dravid.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a report, Gambhir arrived in Kolkata to shoot a farewell video and sign off as their mentor after only rejoining his former franchise, where he won two titles as IPL captain, in late 2023. Under Gambhir's mentorship, Shreyas Iyer-led Kolkata won their third IPL title and first&nbsp;since 2014 (during his captaincy days). It is to be noted that Gambhir also served as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor from 2022-23, leading them to the playoffs in both editions. While he has no coaching experience, his exposure at the international level&nbsp;is expected to do wonders for Team India. He was a big-match player for India during his playing days and, hence, is expected to groom the younger lot and manage the transition with ease.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/sourav-ganguly-to-be-next-kkr-mentor-ipl-team-shares-heartfelt-birthday-wish-amid-gautam-gambhir-exit-reports-738990">Sourav Ganguly to be next KKR mentor? IPL team shares heartfelt birthday wish amid Gautam Gambhir exit reports</a></strong></p>

<p>Thus, Gambhir is now ready to say goodbye to KKR after a one-year stint as a team mentor. An official&nbsp;told Times Now, "It was a low-key affair, but Gambhir wanted to bid goodbye to his fans with a message and that is why they shot a video at the Eden."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The video is expected to be out after BCCI confirm Gambhir's appointment as the India head coach. As per reports, they are&nbsp;in the "final stages of salary negotiations" with the former Indian opener. Gambhir was part of MS Dhoni-led India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup triumphs (ending as the highest run-getter in both finals).</p>


Gautam Gambhir is rumoured to take over as the Indian senior men's team coach from their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, later this month. Ever since his name started doing the rounds for the top post, he has emerged as a strong contender to take over from Rahul Dravid (who signed off with India's T20 World Cup win in West Indies and USA on June 29).

Gautam Gambhir is rumoured to take over as the Indian senior men's team coach from their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, later this month. Ever since his name started doing the rounds for the top post, he has emerged as a strong contender to take over from Rahul Dravid (who signed off with India's T20 World Cup win in West Indies and USA on June 29). Reportedly, Gambhir recently shot a farewell video with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp, in Kolkata, to sign off as their mentor with talks intensifying for him to succeed Dravid. As per a report, Gambhir arrived in Kolkata to shoot a farewell video and sign off as their mentor after only rejoining his former franchise, where he won two titles as IPL captain, in late 2023. Under Gambhir's mentorship, Shreyas Iyer-led Kolkata won their third IPL title and first since 2014 (during his captaincy days). It is to be noted that Gambhir also served as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor from 2022-23, leading them to the playoffs in both editions. While he has no coaching experience, his exposure at the international level is expected to do wonders for Team India. He was a big-match player for India during his playing days and, hence, is expected to groom the younger lot and manage the transition with ease. Also read: Sourav Ganguly to be next KKR mentor? IPL team shares heartfelt birthday wish amid Gautam Gambhir exit reports Thus, Gambhir is now ready to say goodbye to KKR after a one-year stint as a team mentor. An official told Times Now, "It was a low-key affair, but Gambhir wanted to bid goodbye to his fans with a message and that is why they shot a video at the Eden." The video is expected to be out after BCCI confirm Gambhir's appointment as the India head coach. As per reports, they are in the "final stages of salary negotiations" with the former Indian opener. Gambhir was part of MS Dhoni-led India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup triumphs (ending as the highest run-getter in both finals).

Gautam Gambhir shoots farewell video with KKR camp as India coach appointment talks intensify: Report

<p>Former India cricketer Sourav Ganguly turned 52 on Monday (Jul 8). Wishing the former BCCI chief and current Delhi Capital mentor, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) posted a heartfelt message for him on social media</p>

<p>“Maharaja. Dada. The Prince of Kolkata. Happy Birthday, Sourav Ganguly!" wrote KKR on its official X account.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-secretary-jay-shah-undecided-on-iccs-chairman-post-despite-rumours-738938">BCCI secretary Jay Shah undecided on ICC’s chairman post despite rumours</a></p>

<p>The post comes at a time when KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir is being touted as Rahul Dravid's replacement to be the next India head coach. If Gambhir, the only applicant, accepts the job then he'd have to resign from his position as KKR mentor.</p>

<p>Could Ganguly become the next KKR mentor? Only time will tell!</p>

<p>In the past, Ganguly has played for the three-time IPL champion from 2008 to 2010. He was let go ahead of the 2011 auction and was ironically replace by Gambhir as skipper. In 2011 and 2012, Ganguly played for now-defunct Pune Warriors India&nbsp;but bid adieu to cricket for good after that.</p>

<p>Under Ganguly, India transformed into a side which could challenge oppositions away from home. India shared the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy under his leadership before being the runners up in 2003 ODI World Cup.</p>

<p>Ganguly captained India in 49 Tests, winning 21 of them and losing 13 along with 15 draws. In ODIs, Ganguly led India in 146 matches and won in 76 of those matches.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As a batter, the southpaw was a treat to watch when on song, especially in 50-over cricket. He has 11,363 runs in ODIs - the ninth most overall and the third most for India after Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) and Virat Kohli (13,848).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ganguly also has 22 ODI hundreds to his name - joint 10th most overall and fourth most for India behind Kohli (50), Tendulkar (49) and Rohit Sharma (31).</p>

<p>In Tests, the former batter has 7,212 runs - the seventh most for India.</p>


Former India cricketer Sourav Ganguly turned 52 on Monday (Jul 8). Wishing the former BCCI chief and current Delhi Capital mentor, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) posted a heartfelt message for him on social media “Maharaja.

Former India cricketer Sourav Ganguly turned 52 on Monday (Jul 8). Wishing the former BCCI chief and current Delhi Capital mentor, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) posted a heartfelt message for him on social media “Maharaja. Dada. The Prince of Kolkata. Happy Birthday, Sourav Ganguly!" wrote KKR on its official X account. Also Read: BCCI secretary Jay Shah undecided on ICC’s chairman post despite rumours The post comes at a time when KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir is being touted as Rahul Dravid's replacement to be the next India head coach. If Gambhir, the only applicant, accepts the job then he'd have to resign from his position as KKR mentor. Could Ganguly become the next KKR mentor? Only time will tell! In the past, Ganguly has played for the three-time IPL champion from 2008 to 2010. He was let go ahead of the 2011 auction and was ironically replace by Gambhir as skipper. In 2011 and 2012, Ganguly played for now-defunct Pune Warriors India but bid adieu to cricket for good after that. Under Ganguly, India transformed into a side which could challenge oppositions away from home. India shared the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy under his leadership before being the runners up in 2003 ODI World Cup. Ganguly captained India in 49 Tests, winning 21 of them and losing 13 along with 15 draws. In ODIs, Ganguly led India in 146 matches and won in 76 of those matches. As a batter, the southpaw was a treat to watch when on song, especially in 50-over cricket. He has 11,363 runs in ODIs - the ninth most overall and the third most for India after Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) and Virat Kohli (13,848). Ganguly also has 22 ODI hundreds to his name - joint 10th most overall and fourth most for India behind Kohli (50), Tendulkar (49) and Rohit Sharma (31). In Tests, the former batter has 7,212 runs - the seventh most for India.

Sourav Ganguly to be next KKR mentor? IPL team shares heartfelt birthday wish amid Gautam Gambhir exit reports

<p>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir is reportedly inching closer to becoming the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team after initial discussions with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah.</p>

<p>Gambhir, who as a mentor led KKR to their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title on Sunday (May 26), could take over the reins of the side after the T20 World Cup as the BCCI is in no rush to announce Rahul Dravid’s successor.</p>

<h2><strong>Gambhir for India coach? What we know so far</strong></h2>

<p>KKR co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan is aware of the meetings held by Gambhir and Jay Shah and will not stand in the way if the former decides to go.</p>

<p>According to reports, Gambhir is also interested in the role but wants to be assured of how much control he will have over the team.</p>

<p>According to Cricbuzz, both Shah and Gambhir held talks on Monday and Tuesday and the BCCI chief wants the former World Cup winner&nbsp;to accept the proposal.</p>

<h2><br />
<strong>Who else is in the race to become the coach?</strong></h2>

<p><br />
It was reported earlier that over 3,000 applications had been received by the BCCI, since the advertisement for the new head coach came out.</p>

<p>Current head coach Rahul Dravid has not applied for the role again after the May 27 deadline. Therefore, Dravid won’t take charge of the side post-T20 World Cup unless there is an emergency.</p>

<p>National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman is another name doing the rounds,&nbsp;but he is reluctant to take charge.</p>

<p>According to Laxman, he is unlikely to be available for the demanding nature of the job which includes staying with the team for 10 months.</p>

<p>While there have been applications in the name of Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag, those are most likely fake.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/kkr-batter-nitish-rana-shares-screenshot-of-whatsapp-text-with-gautam-gambhir-726379">KKR batter Nitish Rana shares screenshot of WhatsApp text with Gautam Gambhir</a></p>

<h2><strong>Who is not in the race?</strong></h2>

<p>Names of the likes of Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer were doing the rounds at the start of the application process.<br />
<br />
However, Jay Shah has ruled out any such possibility and wants to appoint an Indian&nbsp;as coach. Both Ponting and Langer were part of the IPL rosters of Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants during the recently concluded season.</p>

<p>Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming is also not part of the conversation despite talks of MS Dhoni being part of the negotiation process.</p>

<p>As things stand, Gambhir remains the front-runner for the job with BBCI now in advance talks with the former World Cup winner.</p>


Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir is reportedly inching closer to becoming the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team after initial discussions with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir is reportedly inching closer to becoming the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team after initial discussions with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah. Gambhir, who as a mentor led KKR to their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title on Sunday (May 26), could take over the reins of the side after the T20 World Cup as the BCCI is in no rush to announce Rahul Dravid’s successor. Gambhir for India coach? What we know so far KKR co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan is aware of the meetings held by Gambhir and Jay Shah and will not stand in the way if the former decides to go. According to reports, Gambhir is also interested in the role but wants to be assured of how much control he will have over the team. According to Cricbuzz, both Shah and Gambhir held talks on Monday and Tuesday and the BCCI chief wants the former World Cup winner to accept the proposal. Who else is in the race to become the coach? It was reported earlier that over 3,000 applications had been received by the BCCI, since the advertisement for the new head coach came out. Current head coach Rahul Dravid has not applied for the role again after the May 27 deadline. Therefore, Dravid won’t take charge of the side post-T20 World Cup unless there is an emergency. National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman is another name doing the rounds, but he is reluctant to take charge. According to Laxman, he is unlikely to be available for the demanding nature of the job which includes staying with the team for 10 months. While there have been applications in the name of Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag, those are most likely fake. ALSO READ | KKR batter Nitish Rana shares screenshot of WhatsApp text with Gautam Gambhir Who is not in the race? Names of the likes of Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer were doing the rounds at the start of the application process. However, Jay Shah has ruled out any such possibility and wants to appoint an Indian as coach. Both Ponting and Langer were part of the IPL rosters of Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants during the recently concluded season. Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming is also not part of the conversation despite talks of MS Dhoni being part of the negotiation process. As things stand, Gambhir remains the front-runner for the job with BBCI now in advance talks with the former World Cup winner.

Will Gautam Gambhir be Team India coach? Is he leaving KKR after talks with Jay Shah? Latest developments