The BCCI and IPL franchises have started mounting pressure on overseas boards to have their players return to play the IPL's resumption on May 17.
The BCCI's leadership has directed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">IPL</a> COO Hemang Amin to personally approach the likes of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/cricket-australia">Cricket Australia</a> and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in order to mitigate the fears that the players might have about returning to India.
All the 10 teams are having several back and forth discussions with their foreign players in regards to their plans of arrival in India a day after the IPL declared the new schedule after requisite security clearances from the government.
The IPL was put on hold on May 9 due to rising India-Pakistan tensions
"We have been speaking to the foreign boards individually while teams are directly dealing with their players. We expect majority of them to return," a BCCI official told PTI on Tuesday.
CA has left it in the hands of the players to make their decision and in situations like these, the players' association has something to say.
Team officials, however, informed PTI that some of the foreign players are still eager to return but most of them should return prior to the resumption of the tournament.
"The revised scheduled was announced last night. We have just started contacting our foreign players over their availability. We will have a clearer picture by tomorrow morning. Anyway our game is on May 20. We have enough time," said CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan.
CSK foreign players are Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad and Matheesha Pathirana.
<h2>Stoinis unlikely to return; Cummins set to fly back</h2>
At Punjab Kings, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and fellow countryman Josh Inglis won't be returning to India although head coach Ricky Ponting is doing his level best to persuade them.
Aussie countrymen Xavier Bartlett and Aaron Hardie and Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai and South African Marco Jansen will return.
"The foreign players were scared at that time and understandably so. The BCCI showed the safety of the players is paramount by ensuring they all got back home safely. Now the situation has got better, the players should return. However, some of them still remain on the edge," said an IPL official.
Like Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad too are out of the tournament but the franchise is hopeful that captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pat-cummins">Pat Cummins</a> and Travis Head will be back for the last three league matches. "We are hopeful that most of foreign players will be back including the captain," a team official said.
Delhi Capitals, who are still in the race for a top-four position, spoke to their foreign players on Tuesday morning and are expecting to hear back from them. Australian fast bowler <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mitchell-starc">Mitchell Starc</a> is one of DC's star players.
"We hope that all of them come back. We will get to know about it by tomorrow," replied a team official.
The IPL final on May 25 has been rescheduled to June 3.

India News, Sports: The remainder of the tournament will be played across six venues - Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Ahmedabad

The BCCI and IPL franchises have started mounting pressure on overseas boards to have their players return to play the IPL's resumption on May 17. The BCCI's leadership has directed IPL COO Hemang Amin to personally approach the likes of Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in order to mitigate the fears that the players might have about returning to India. All the 10 teams are having several back and forth discussions with their foreign players in regards to their plans of arrival in India a day after the IPL declared the new schedule after requisite security clearances from the government. The IPL was put on hold on May 9 due to rising India-Pakistan tensions "We have been speaking to the foreign boards individually while teams are directly dealing with their players. We expect majority of them to return," a BCCI official told PTI on Tuesday. CA has left it in the hands of the players to make their decision and in situations like these, the players' association has something to say. Team officials, however, informed PTI that some of the foreign players are still eager to return but most of them should return prior to the resumption of the tournament. "The revised scheduled was announced last night. We have just started contacting our foreign players over their availability. We will have a clearer picture by tomorrow morning. Anyway our game is on May 20. We have enough time," said CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan. CSK foreign players are Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad and Matheesha Pathirana. Stoinis unlikely to return; Cummins set to fly back At Punjab Kings, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and fellow countryman Josh Inglis won't be returning to India although head coach Ricky Ponting is doing his level best to persuade them. Aussie countrymen Xavier Bartlett and Aaron Hardie and Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai and South African Marco Jansen will return. "The foreign players were scared at that time and understandably so. The BCCI showed the safety of the players is paramount by ensuring they all got back home safely. Now the situation has got better, the players should return. However, some of them still remain on the edge," said an IPL official. Like Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad too are out of the tournament but the franchise is hopeful that captain Pat Cummins and Travis Head will be back for the last three league matches. "We are hopeful that most of foreign players will be back including the captain," a team official said. Delhi Capitals, who are still in the race for a top-four position, spoke to their foreign players on Tuesday morning and are expecting to hear back from them. Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is one of DC's star players. "We hope that all of them come back. We will get to know about it by tomorrow," replied a team official. The IPL final on May 25 has been rescheduled to June 3.

IPL 2025 | BCCI scrambles to get foreign players as IPL sets for resumption: Who will return and who won’t? Deets inside

Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a> was about to take off for home when the ceasefire between India and Pakistan came into force.
Despite that, the former Australian captain had the option to fly back to Australia but he chose not to, making a last-minute disembarkation from the Qantas plane packed with anxious passengers.
Ponting stayed back in Delhi but he also ensured that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">PBKS</a>' foreign players, who were considering the possibility of a full scale war between two nuclear-armed countries, were convinced about returning to India with the event likely to resume later in the week.
"It shows Ponting's character. Only he could have pulled that off. Not only he voluntarily decided to stay back, he gave a motivational talk to the foreign players who had left for their respective destinations but now will be joining the team at the earliest," Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon was quoted saying to PTI.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/archery-world-cup-2025-india-bags-seven-medals-bronze-for-deepika-kumari-parth-salunkhe-9059029">Archery World Cup 2025: India bags seven medals; bronze for Deepika Kumari &amp; Parth Salunkhe</a>
Considering the heightened security at the Delhi Airport, the franchise officials had to make plenty of phone calls to ensure Ponting's luggage was off-loaded from the plane.
The anxious batch of players, who had to make a nervous road/train journey from Dharamsala to Delhi following the abandonment of the IPL game on May 8, included Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis and Xavier Bartlett (all from Australia).
<h2>Jansen, Omarzai in Dubai</h2>
South Africa's Marco Jansen and Afghanistan's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/azmatullah-omarzai" rel="dofollow">Azmatullah Omarzai</a> have camped themselves in Dubai which is a short flight from India.
The foreign players are not used to something like this (war like situation). So, it was natural for them to feel anxious. Led by Stoinis, they all wanted to leave at the earliest and understandably so. But Ponting has convinced them to come back post ceasefire which I think is remarkable," said a source in the team.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; With the announcement of IPL resumption imminent, Punjab find themselves well-placed with majority of their star Indian and foreign players already in the country and on standby.&nbsp;With Ponting galvanising the team from a nervous situation, it could motivate the squad to do something special in this IPL.&nbsp;
In the first season of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a> and Ricky Ponting era, Punjab stand on the cusp of its first play-off berth since 2014. The other stranded team in Dharamsala was Delhi Capitals after the game was abandoned after Punjab Kings raced to 122/1 in 10.1 overs.&nbsp;The match will resume from that position at a yet to be decided venue and date.

India News, Sports: Amid heightened security at Delhi Airport, the team officials had to make several phone calls to ensure Ponting's luggage was off-loaded from plane

Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting was about to take off for home when the ceasefire between India and Pakistan came into force. Despite that, the former Australian captain had the option to fly back to Australia but he chose not to, making a last-minute disembarkation from the Qantas plane packed with anxious passengers. Ponting stayed back in Delhi but he also ensured that the PBKS' foreign players, who were considering the possibility of a full scale war between two nuclear-armed countries, were convinced about returning to India with the event likely to resume later in the week. "It shows Ponting's character. Only he could have pulled that off. Not only he voluntarily decided to stay back, he gave a motivational talk to the foreign players who had left for their respective destinations but now will be joining the team at the earliest," Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon was quoted saying to PTI. Also Read: Archery World Cup 2025: India bags seven medals; bronze for Deepika Kumari & Parth Salunkhe Considering the heightened security at the Delhi Airport, the franchise officials had to make plenty of phone calls to ensure Ponting's luggage was off-loaded from the plane. The anxious batch of players, who had to make a nervous road/train journey from Dharamsala to Delhi following the abandonment of the IPL game on May 8, included Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis and Xavier Bartlett (all from Australia). Jansen, Omarzai in Dubai South Africa's Marco Jansen and Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai have camped themselves in Dubai which is a short flight from India. The foreign players are not used to something like this (war like situation). So, it was natural for them to feel anxious. Led by Stoinis, they all wanted to leave at the earliest and understandably so. But Ponting has convinced them to come back post ceasefire which I think is remarkable," said a source in the team. With the announcement of IPL resumption imminent, Punjab find themselves well-placed with majority of their star Indian and foreign players already in the country and on standby. With Ponting galvanising the team from a nervous situation, it could motivate the squad to do something special in this IPL. In the first season of Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting era, Punjab stand on the cusp of its first play-off berth since 2014. The other stranded team in Dharamsala was Delhi Capitals after the game was abandoned after Punjab Kings raced to 122/1 in 10.1 overs. The match will resume from that position at a yet to be decided venue and date.

India-Pak news | Show of faith: Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting deboards from plane for Oz, asks overseas IPL players to come back to India

The BCCI, IPL and the Indian Railways pulled off a brave feat of safely bringing all Punjab Kings-Delhi Capitals <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a>-bound players and staff members, including the crew, back to Delhi from Dharamsala on Friday (May 9). A day after their game at the HPCA stadium came to an unexpected halt for security concerns, causing panic within the camp, the tournament organisers ensured everyone remained safe and was home.
The latest reports also suggest that all players, Indian and overseas, will head home at the earliest amid prevailing cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.
On Thursday, the start of the PBKS-DC game was delayed by rain and then a wet outfield. Punjab won the toss and elected to bat first, with their openers making light work of Delhi's bowlers. The Indian batting pair of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh added 122 runs for the first wicket; however, Arya&rsquo;s dismissal on the first ball of the 11th over broke the stand, and with any hopes of the game getting underway.
Though floodlight failure was one of the early reasons behind pausing the game, the IPL chairman asking the fans to vacate the venue ensured the real reason behind it.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/foreign-players-to-head-home-as-panic-grips-ipl-2025-amid-ongoing-india-pakistan-tensions-9052446" rel="dofollow">Foreign players to head home as panic grips IPL 2025 amid ongoing India-Pakistan tensions</a>
Rajeev Shukla, the BCCI vice-president, ensured that the Indian Board and IPL would arrange a special train to ferry the two squads and everyone else involved safely home. Taking to their official X handle, IPL posted,&nbsp;
&ldquo;Thank you, @RailMinIndia, for arranging a special Vande Bharat train on such short notice to ferry the players, support staff, commentators, production crew members, and operations staff to New Delhi.
We deeply appreciate your swift response. 🙌🏽&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indo-pak-war-operation-sindoor-we-will-blast-delhis-cricket-stadium-ddca-receives-bomb-threat-amid-ipl-2025-suspension-arun-jaitley-report-9051958" rel="dofollow">Indo-Pak war: 'We will blast...,' Delhi cricket stadium receives bomb threat amid IPL 2025 suspension - Report</a>
<h3>Watch Video &ndash;</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-mah4ezog-b5j0l8ic-snu5euze">
Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/RailMinIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RailMinIndia</a>, for arranging a special Vande Bharat train on such short notice to ferry the players, support staff, commentators, production crew members, and operations staff to New Delhi. We deeply appreciate your swift response. 🙌🏽<a href="https://twitter.com/AshwiniVaishnaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AshwiniVaishnaw</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/JayShah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JayShah</a> |&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/tUwzc5nGWD">pic.twitter.com/tUwzc5nGWD</a>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1920879231191351649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>BCCI suspends IPL 2025</h2>
Meanwhile, in the major development surrounding IPL 2025, the BCCI has suspended the ten-tournament with immediate effect for a week, adding they will monitor the situation before going public about its future. Although there is no aim to rush into resuming it unless the cross-border tensions de-escalate, several reports have suggested that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indo-pak-war-cricket-no-asia-cup-2025-this-year-as-bcci-could-use-that-window-to-stage-remainder-of-ipl-2025-report-9051654" rel="dofollow">BCCI is looking at the September window to resume it</a>.&nbsp;
For that to happen, they are willing to scrap India&rsquo;s tour of Bangladesh and the Asia Cup 2025, the schedule of which has yet to be announced, if the need arises.&nbsp;

Though floodlight failure was one of the early reasons behind pausing the game, the IPL chairman asking the fans to vacate the venue ensured the real reason behind it. India news, Sports, Cricket

The BCCI, IPL and the Indian Railways pulled off a brave feat of safely bringing all Punjab Kings-Delhi Capitals IPL 2025-bound players and staff members, including the crew, back to Delhi from Dharamsala on Friday (May 9). A day after their game at the HPCA stadium came to an unexpected halt for security concerns, causing panic within the camp, the tournament organisers ensured everyone remained safe and was home. The latest reports also suggest that all players, Indian and overseas, will head home at the earliest amid prevailing cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. On Thursday, the start of the PBKS-DC game was delayed by rain and then a wet outfield. Punjab won the toss and elected to bat first, with their openers making light work of Delhi's bowlers. The Indian batting pair of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh added 122 runs for the first wicket; however, Arya’s dismissal on the first ball of the 11th over broke the stand, and with any hopes of the game getting underway. Though floodlight failure was one of the early reasons behind pausing the game, the IPL chairman asking the fans to vacate the venue ensured the real reason behind it. Also read | Foreign players to head home as panic grips IPL 2025 amid ongoing India-Pakistan tensions Rajeev Shukla, the BCCI vice-president, ensured that the Indian Board and IPL would arrange a special train to ferry the two squads and everyone else involved safely home. Taking to their official X handle, IPL posted, “Thank you, @RailMinIndia, for arranging a special Vande Bharat train on such short notice to ferry the players, support staff, commentators, production crew members, and operations staff to New Delhi. We deeply appreciate your swift response. 🙌🏽” Also read | Indo-Pak war: 'We will blast...,' Delhi cricket stadium receives bomb threat amid IPL 2025 suspension - Report Watch Video – Thank you, @RailMinIndia, for arranging a special Vande Bharat train on such short notice to ferry the players, support staff, commentators, production crew members, and operations staff to New Delhi. We deeply appreciate your swift response. 🙌🏽@AshwiniVaishnaw | @JayShah |… pic.twitter.com/tUwzc5nGWD — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 9, 2025 BCCI suspends IPL 2025 Meanwhile, in the major development surrounding IPL 2025, the BCCI has suspended the ten-tournament with immediate effect for a week, adding they will monitor the situation before going public about its future. Although there is no aim to rush into resuming it unless the cross-border tensions de-escalate, several reports have suggested that the BCCI is looking at the September window to resume it. For that to happen, they are willing to scrap India’s tour of Bangladesh and the Asia Cup 2025, the schedule of which has yet to be announced, if the need arises.

IPL 2025 - All PBKS-DC-bound players reach Delhi safely from Dharamsala, BCCI thanks Indian Railways

Punjab Kings may have taken another step towards the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) Playoffs after their match against Delhi Capitals was abandoned due to floodlights failure on Thursday (May 8). While there is no official word from the IPL governing council (at the time of writing) over the outcome of the match and points distribution, we assume both Punjab and Delhi will be awarded one point each, as a rearrangement of fixtures looks highly unlikely. So, what happens to the IPL 2025 standings? Who will it affect most?<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Punjab in IPL 2025 Playoffs?<o:p></o:p></h2>
Assuming both Punjab and Delhi get a point, the former will take a step closer to the Playoffs as they will be on 16 points from 12 matches. A win on Thursday could have seen the 2014 runners-up go top of the standings, but that won&rsquo;t be the case as they will now sit level with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) on 16 points. <o:p></o:p>
For Delhi, they will reach 14 points from 12 matches, level with Mumbai Indians, who have also played 12 matches. Both Delhi and Mumbai, in this case, are separated by Net Run Rate (NRR) and will go head-to-head on May 15 at Wankhede Stadium in a virtual Playoff match to decide who finishes in the top four. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">End of the road for KKR?<o:p></o:p></h2>
A point for Delhi will all but end Kolkata Knight Riders&rsquo; journey in the IPL Playoffs race. With two matches to go, KKR can reach a maximum of 15 points if they win their remaining matches. However, they won&rsquo;t be able to finish in the top three as RCB, GT and PBKS already have 16 points to their name. Interestingly, both Delhi and Mumbai (both with 14 points) play in a head-to-head match on May 15, thus meaning another team will reach 16 points, therefore eliminating KKR.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indo-pak-war-latest-news-we-are-proud-neeraj-chopra-reacts-on-indian-defence-forcesswift-reply-to-pakistani-attack-9049871" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Indo-Pak War | 'We are proud,' Neeraj Chopra reacts on Indian defence forces' swift reply to Pakistani attack</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Can KKR still qualify for IPL 2025 Playoffs?<o:p></o:p></h2>
Technically, KKR can still reach the IPL 2025 Playoffs but need a miracle of sorts. They would need Mumbai to lose to Punjab on Sunday (May 11) and on the same day need Gujarat Titans to win against Delhi Capitals. This will mean, both Mumbai and Delhi will enter the head-to-head contest on May 15 with 14 points each. For KKR, this match should end in a washout or no result and both teams need to share the points and finish with 15 points each. <o:p></o:p>
In this scenario, if KKR win both their matches and the above equation is satisfied, coupled with at least one defeat for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in one of the matches, then the fourth spot will be decided on NRR. The trio of Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata will then contest for the fourth spot. <o:p></o:p>
However, a washout between DC and MI remains a highly unlikely probability.

PBKS may have taken another step towards the IPL 2025 Playoffs after their match against Delhi Capitals was abandoned due to floodlights failure on Thursday (May 8). India News | Cricket | Sports

Punjab Kings may have taken another step towards the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) Playoffs after their match against Delhi Capitals was abandoned due to floodlights failure on Thursday (May 8). While there is no official word from the IPL governing council (at the time of writing) over the outcome of the match and points distribution, we assume both Punjab and Delhi will be awarded one point each, as a rearrangement of fixtures looks highly unlikely. So, what happens to the IPL 2025 standings? Who will it affect most? Punjab in IPL 2025 Playoffs? Assuming both Punjab and Delhi get a point, the former will take a step closer to the Playoffs as they will be on 16 points from 12 matches. A win on Thursday could have seen the 2014 runners-up go top of the standings, but that won’t be the case as they will now sit level with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) on 16 points. For Delhi, they will reach 14 points from 12 matches, level with Mumbai Indians, who have also played 12 matches. Both Delhi and Mumbai, in this case, are separated by Net Run Rate (NRR) and will go head-to-head on May 15 at Wankhede Stadium in a virtual Playoff match to decide who finishes in the top four. End of the road for KKR? A point for Delhi will all but end Kolkata Knight Riders’ journey in the IPL Playoffs race. With two matches to go, KKR can reach a maximum of 15 points if they win their remaining matches. However, they won’t be able to finish in the top three as RCB, GT and PBKS already have 16 points to their name. Interestingly, both Delhi and Mumbai (both with 14 points) play in a head-to-head match on May 15, thus meaning another team will reach 16 points, therefore eliminating KKR. ALSO READ | Indo-Pak War | 'We are proud,' Neeraj Chopra reacts on Indian defence forces' swift reply to Pakistani attack Can KKR still qualify for IPL 2025 Playoffs? Technically, KKR can still reach the IPL 2025 Playoffs but need a miracle of sorts. They would need Mumbai to lose to Punjab on Sunday (May 11) and on the same day need Gujarat Titans to win against Delhi Capitals. This will mean, both Mumbai and Delhi will enter the head-to-head contest on May 15 with 14 points each. For KKR, this match should end in a washout or no result and both teams need to share the points and finish with 15 points each. In this scenario, if KKR win both their matches and the above equation is satisfied, coupled with at least one defeat for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in one of the matches, then the fourth spot will be decided on NRR. The trio of Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata will then contest for the fourth spot. However, a washout between DC and MI remains a highly unlikely probability.

IPL 2025: Punjab Kings near Playoffs, Kolkata Knight Riders on the brink of exit

Delhi Capitals are all set to play against Punjab Kings as they both look to book their place in the Playoffs of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). The contest on Wednesday (May 8) in Dharamsala will have bearings on the Playoff scenarios of Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Punjab. So what happens if Delhi Capitals beat Punjab Kings in Dharamsala?
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Will KKR get knocked out of IPL 2025?</h2>
If Delhi Capitals beat Punjab Kings, it could spell the end of the road for KKR in IPL 2025. The result would mean, Punjab Kings (15 points with 2 matches remaining), Delhi Capitals (15 points with 2 matches remaining) and Mumbai Indians (14 points with 2 matches remaining) will fight for a place in the top four. Since the three teams are also playing head-to-head matches between them and KKR, with two matches could reach a maximum of 15 points, at least two teams from the trio will reach 16 or more points.
KKR&rsquo;s defeat to Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday proved vital as they could reach a maximum of 15 points, even if they win against SunRisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB).
On the contrary, a defeat in either of those matches will spell the end of the road for KKR in the IPL 2025.
Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, will also have to win their remaining three matches to stand any chance of reaching the Playoffs in the IPL 2025.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rohit-sharma-announces-retirement-from-test-cricket-9045477" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What next for KKR?</h2>
KKR will need Punjab Kings to win all their matches, including beating Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians in the head-to-head matches.
This means PBKS will finish in the top three, leaving Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Lucknow Super Giants scrambling for the fourth place. Since Mumbai and Delhi are facing each other in a head-to-head contest on Thursday (May 15), KKR will need the Capitals to win at the Wankhede Stadium. KKR will also need Lucknow Super Giants to lose at least one of their three matches.
If the above set of equations are achieved, then KKR and DC will finish on 15 points while Mumbai will end the league phase with 14 points. Lucknow will also end with 14 points or fewer, leaving Delhi and Kolkata scrambling for a place in the Playoffs.
In this case, NRR will play a vital role in sending either team to the IPL 2025 Playoffs.

Delhi Capitals are all set to play against Punjab Kings as they both look to book their place in the Playoffs of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). India News | Cricket | Sports

Delhi Capitals are all set to play against Punjab Kings as they both look to book their place in the Playoffs of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). The contest on Wednesday (May 8) in Dharamsala will have bearings on the Playoff scenarios of Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Punjab. So what happens if Delhi Capitals beat Punjab Kings in Dharamsala? Will KKR get knocked out of IPL 2025? If Delhi Capitals beat Punjab Kings, it could spell the end of the road for KKR in IPL 2025. The result would mean, Punjab Kings (15 points with 2 matches remaining), Delhi Capitals (15 points with 2 matches remaining) and Mumbai Indians (14 points with 2 matches remaining) will fight for a place in the top four. Since the three teams are also playing head-to-head matches between them and KKR, with two matches could reach a maximum of 15 points, at least two teams from the trio will reach 16 or more points. KKR’s defeat to Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday proved vital as they could reach a maximum of 15 points, even if they win against SunRisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB). On the contrary, a defeat in either of those matches will spell the end of the road for KKR in the IPL 2025. Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, will also have to win their remaining three matches to stand any chance of reaching the Playoffs in the IPL 2025. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket What next for KKR? KKR will need Punjab Kings to win all their matches, including beating Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians in the head-to-head matches. This means PBKS will finish in the top three, leaving Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Lucknow Super Giants scrambling for the fourth place. Since Mumbai and Delhi are facing each other in a head-to-head contest on Thursday (May 15), KKR will need the Capitals to win at the Wankhede Stadium. KKR will also need Lucknow Super Giants to lose at least one of their three matches. If the above set of equations are achieved, then KKR and DC will finish on 15 points while Mumbai will end the league phase with 14 points. Lucknow will also end with 14 points or fewer, leaving Delhi and Kolkata scrambling for a place in the Playoffs. In this case, NRR will play a vital role in sending either team to the IPL 2025 Playoffs.

IPL 2025: What happens to KKR's Playoffs chances if Delhi Capitals beat Punjab Kings in Dharamsala?

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has seen some of the youngsters grabbing the limelight with their brilliant performances. Among a number of such young players, one name that stands out is that of Punjab Kings' opening batsman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/prabhsimran-singh">Prabhsimran Singh</a>, who fell a few runs short of a century against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday (May 4).
Prabhsimran's father, Sardar Surjit Singh, is not having the best of times, needing dialysis treatment three times a week. In these tough times, Prabhsimran's performances with PBKS on the field have somehow managed to get Surjit Singh in a smiling frame of mind again.
"The only time he smiles these days is when he sees Prabhsimran play in the IPL," Satwinderpal Singh, brother of Surjit Singh, said in a report published by the Times of India.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sports-ipl-2025-virat-kohli-makes-shocking-revelation-says-i-did-think-about-leaving-9039941">'I did think about leaving RCB': Virat Kohli makes shocking revelation</a>
<h2>'Before the game, I take him to living room'</h2>
"He is going for dialysis three times a week. As an elder brother, I am not in a position to see the suffering he is facing. I have to be away from home when the doctors come home for the dialysis. There has not been a single day that I have not hoped it may not be my younger brother," said Satwinderpal Singh, who has also acted as a mentor to Prabhsimran along with his own sons Anmolpreet Singh and Tejpreet Singh.
While Prabhsimran is ruling the whole nation with his bat, his uncle and father are watching his performance sitting in front of the TV at Patiala. In fact, when Surjit sees his son Prabhsimran hitting a rash shot, he screams in front of the TV telling that he should play cautiously.
"Before every <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a> match, I bring him to the living room. We watch the game together, and whenever the camera lands on Simmu, he smiles. If Simmu scores a goal, he keeps smiling and laughing. He does not remember that he is in pain at the moment. If Simmu shoots a careless shot, he shouts, 'khotte aaram naal khel (play sensibly).
When Prabsimran video called his father after the 91-run innings against Lucknow, he was scolded by Surjit for not completing the ton.&nbsp;"Simmu video called on Monday morning to take an update about Surjit. And my brother gave him back by saying why he threw away his wicket after getting so close to the hundred," said Satwinderpal with a smile.
"Shouting at Simmu, puffing and panting. Every time I have to intervene and tell him to praise the boy, as he is playing that well."
Prabsimran has become the top run-scorer for PBKS this year, ahead of even captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a>.

Cricket, Sports: Opener Prabhsimran Singh has emerged as the top run-getter for Punjab Kings in this ongoing IPL season, leaving behind even skipper Shreyas Iyer

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has seen some of the youngsters grabbing the limelight with their brilliant performances. Among a number of such young players, one name that stands out is that of Punjab Kings' opening batsman Prabhsimran Singh, who fell a few runs short of a century against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday (May 4). Prabhsimran's father, Sardar Surjit Singh, is not having the best of times, needing dialysis treatment three times a week. In these tough times, Prabhsimran's performances with PBKS on the field have somehow managed to get Surjit Singh in a smiling frame of mind again. "The only time he smiles these days is when he sees Prabhsimran play in the IPL," Satwinderpal Singh, brother of Surjit Singh, said in a report published by the Times of India. Also Read: 'I did think about leaving RCB': Virat Kohli makes shocking revelation 'Before the game, I take him to living room' "He is going for dialysis three times a week. As an elder brother, I am not in a position to see the suffering he is facing. I have to be away from home when the doctors come home for the dialysis. There has not been a single day that I have not hoped it may not be my younger brother," said Satwinderpal Singh, who has also acted as a mentor to Prabhsimran along with his own sons Anmolpreet Singh and Tejpreet Singh. While Prabhsimran is ruling the whole nation with his bat, his uncle and father are watching his performance sitting in front of the TV at Patiala. In fact, when Surjit sees his son Prabhsimran hitting a rash shot, he screams in front of the TV telling that he should play cautiously. "Before every Punjab Kings match, I bring him to the living room. We watch the game together, and whenever the camera lands on Simmu, he smiles. If Simmu scores a goal, he keeps smiling and laughing. He does not remember that he is in pain at the moment. If Simmu shoots a careless shot, he shouts, 'khotte aaram naal khel (play sensibly). When Prabsimran video called his father after the 91-run innings against Lucknow, he was scolded by Surjit for not completing the ton. "Simmu video called on Monday morning to take an update about Surjit. And my brother gave him back by saying why he threw away his wicket after getting so close to the hundred," said Satwinderpal with a smile. "Shouting at Simmu, puffing and panting. Every time I have to intervene and tell him to praise the boy, as he is playing that well." Prabsimran has become the top run-scorer for PBKS this year, ahead of even captain Shreyas Iyer.

IPL 2025: Singh's father undergoes dialysis 3 times per week, but son's IPL games put a smile on his face

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=LUCKNOW+SUPER+GIANTS" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Lucknow Super Giants </a>(LSG) suffered a 37-run loss against<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=LUCKNOW+SUPER+GIANTS" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank"> Punjab Kings</a> (PBKS) in an IPL 2025 clash at Dharmashala on Sunday (May 4), after a top-order collapse for LSG made things difficult for them right from the start.
Chasing 237, LSG lost quick wickets and were reduced to 73/5. However, Ayush Badoni (74 off 40) and Abdul Samad (45 off 24) fought back with an 81-run stand, but it wasn&rsquo;t enough as LSG could only reach 199/7 in 20 overs.
<h2>Prabhsimran top-scores for PBKS</h2>
Earlier in the first innings, PBKS put up a strong total of 236/5. Prabhsimran Singh led the charge with a fine knock of 91 with seven sixes and six fours, while Josh Inglis (30 off 14), skipper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=shreyas+iyer" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Shreyas Iyer</a> (45 off 25), and Shashank Singh (33* off 15) played key roles. For LSG, Akash Singh and Digvesh Rathi took two wickets each.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-hails-bihars-son-vaibhav-suryavanshis-phenomenal-knock-in-ipl-9033493" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">PM Narendra Modi hails 'Bihar's Son' Vaibhav Suryavanshi's phenomenal knock in IPL</a>
PBKS bowlers bowled a tight line and kept the batsmen in check. Arshdeep Singh stood out with figures of 3/16, while Omarzai picked 2/33. Jansen and Chahal took one wicket each.
After the match, LSG captain Rishabh Pant admitted that the team gave away too many runs and dropped important catches.
&ldquo;Definitely too many runs. When you're gonna drop crucial catches at the wrong time, it is going to hurt you badly. We thought it was going to do more. We didn't pick the length right at the start. That's part and parcel of the game,&rdquo; Rishabh Pant said in the post-match press conference.
"The dream is still alive. If we're gonna win the next three matches, we definitely can turn it around. It makes sense when your top order is batting really well. In every match, you can't hope they will come off nicely&hellip; We need to take the game deep,&rdquo; the LSG skipper added.
With this win, PBKS climbed to second place with 15 points, while LSG lingers at seventh with 10 points from 11 matches played so far.

Chasing 237, LSG lost quick wickets and were reduced to 73/5. However, Ayush Badoni (74 off 40) and Abdul Samad (45 off 24) fought back with an 81-run stand, but it wasn’t enough LSG could only reach 199/7 in 20 overs. Cricket Sports

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) suffered a 37-run loss against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in an IPL 2025 clash at Dharmashala on Sunday (May 4), after a top-order collapse for LSG made things difficult for them right from the start. Chasing 237, LSG lost quick wickets and were reduced to 73/5. However, Ayush Badoni (74 off 40) and Abdul Samad (45 off 24) fought back with an 81-run stand, but it wasn’t enough as LSG could only reach 199/7 in 20 overs. Prabhsimran top-scores for PBKS Earlier in the first innings, PBKS put up a strong total of 236/5. Prabhsimran Singh led the charge with a fine knock of 91 with seven sixes and six fours, while Josh Inglis (30 off 14), skipper Shreyas Iyer (45 off 25), and Shashank Singh (33* off 15) played key roles. For LSG, Akash Singh and Digvesh Rathi took two wickets each. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi hails 'Bihar's Son' Vaibhav Suryavanshi's phenomenal knock in IPL PBKS bowlers bowled a tight line and kept the batsmen in check. Arshdeep Singh stood out with figures of 3/16, while Omarzai picked 2/33. Jansen and Chahal took one wicket each. After the match, LSG captain Rishabh Pant admitted that the team gave away too many runs and dropped important catches. “Definitely too many runs. When you're gonna drop crucial catches at the wrong time, it is going to hurt you badly. We thought it was going to do more. We didn't pick the length right at the start. That's part and parcel of the game,” Rishabh Pant said in the post-match press conference. "The dream is still alive. If we're gonna win the next three matches, we definitely can turn it around. It makes sense when your top order is batting really well. In every match, you can't hope they will come off nicely… We need to take the game deep,” the LSG skipper added. With this win, PBKS climbed to second place with 15 points, while LSG lingers at seventh with 10 points from 11 matches played so far.

IPL 2025: 'Catches win you matches, but if you don't take...': LSG skipper Rishabh Pant takes blame for loss against PBKS

Rishabh Pant again struggled to a low score &nbsp;as his Lucknow Super Giants team slumped to a fourth defeat in five IPL games, losing by 37 runs to the Punjab Kings on Sunday.
Opener Prabhsimran Singh struck 91 off 48 balls to steer Punjab to 236-5, helped by several impressive cameos at the Kings' second home in Dharamsala.
<h2>Punjab beat Lucknow</h2>
Arshdeep Singh then returned brilliant figures of 3-16 as Lucknow could only make 199-7 in reply. Pant fell for a 17-ball 18 in another failure for the India star.
Pant, who was snapped up by LSG for a record price of $3.21 million in the November auction, could not find any fluency during his stay despite hitting two fours and one six.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has mustered only 128 runs from 10 innings this season.
Lucknow sit seventh in the table, four points outside the fourth and final play-off spot with three games remaining.
Punjab climbed to second behind leaders Royal Challengers Bengaluru after their seventh win of the campaign.
Lucknow were never in their chase after left-arm seamer Arshdeep struck twice in the space of four balls in his second over to send back Mitchell Marsh, for a duck, and then Aiden Markram, for 13.
He dismissed the dangerous Nicholas Pooran for six before Pant attempted to rebuild in a scratchy innings that was ended by Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.
Omarzai soon sent back David Miller for 11 to put Lucknow in further trouble at 73-5.
Ayush Badoni, who top-scored with 74, and Abdul Samad, who hit 45, put on a valiant stand of 81 but could only reduce the margin of defeat.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-prabhsimran-singh-to-rahul-tewatia-five-uncapped-indian-batters-with-most-ipl-runs-manan-vohra-ayush-badoni-9032282" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">From Prabhsimran Singh to Rahul Tewatia five uncapped Indian batters with most IPL runs</a>
Earlier, Australia's Josh Inglis, who hammered a quick 30, and Prabhsimran lay the foundations for Punjab's imposing total with a second-wicket partnership of 48.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer took charge after Inglis' departure and made 45 in a partnership of 78 with Prabhsimran, who survived a dropped catch by Pooran when on 21.
Leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi denied Prabhsimran a century, but Shashank Singh, who struck an unbeaten 33, and Marcus Stoinis, who made 15 not out off five balls, ensured Punjab finished strongly.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Opener Prabhsimran Singh struck 91 off 48 balls to steer Punjab to 236-5, helped by several impressive cameos at the Kings' second home in Dharamsala. India News | Sports

Rishabh Pant again struggled to a low score as his Lucknow Super Giants team slumped to a fourth defeat in five IPL games, losing by 37 runs to the Punjab Kings on Sunday. Opener Prabhsimran Singh struck 91 off 48 balls to steer Punjab to 236-5, helped by several impressive cameos at the Kings' second home in Dharamsala. Punjab beat Lucknow Arshdeep Singh then returned brilliant figures of 3-16 as Lucknow could only make 199-7 in reply. Pant fell for a 17-ball 18 in another failure for the India star. Pant, who was snapped up by LSG for a record price of $3.21 million in the November auction, could not find any fluency during his stay despite hitting two fours and one six. The wicketkeeper-batsman has mustered only 128 runs from 10 innings this season. Lucknow sit seventh in the table, four points outside the fourth and final play-off spot with three games remaining. Punjab climbed to second behind leaders Royal Challengers Bengaluru after their seventh win of the campaign. Lucknow were never in their chase after left-arm seamer Arshdeep struck twice in the space of four balls in his second over to send back Mitchell Marsh, for a duck, and then Aiden Markram, for 13. He dismissed the dangerous Nicholas Pooran for six before Pant attempted to rebuild in a scratchy innings that was ended by Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai. Omarzai soon sent back David Miller for 11 to put Lucknow in further trouble at 73-5. Ayush Badoni, who top-scored with 74, and Abdul Samad, who hit 45, put on a valiant stand of 81 but could only reduce the margin of defeat. ALSO READ | From Prabhsimran Singh to Rahul Tewatia five uncapped Indian batters with most IPL runs Earlier, Australia's Josh Inglis, who hammered a quick 30, and Prabhsimran lay the foundations for Punjab's imposing total with a second-wicket partnership of 48. Skipper Shreyas Iyer took charge after Inglis' departure and made 45 in a partnership of 78 with Prabhsimran, who survived a dropped catch by Pooran when on 21. Leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi denied Prabhsimran a century, but Shashank Singh, who struck an unbeaten 33, and Marcus Stoinis, who made 15 not out off five balls, ensured Punjab finished strongly. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant's woes continue as Punjab Kings beat Lucknow by 37 runs

Punjab Kings had a monumental return to Dharamsala as they posted a massive 236/5, the highest at the venue in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) as they took on Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday (May 4). While innings was highlighted by Prabhsimran Singh&rsquo;s 91 off 48, it was Shashank Singh who was the star of the show, which included a massive six that was launched out of the stadium. Netizens did not hold back and took note of the excellent shot hit by the Punjab batter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Sent the ball to enjoy the view 🏔😍 Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh with an entertaining partnership tonight 💪 Scorecard ▶ <a href="https://t.co/YuAePC273s">https://t.co/YuAePC273s</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PBKSvLSG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PBKSvLSG</a> <a href="https://t.co/9WqFWRd3zt">pic.twitter.com/9WqFWRd3zt</a>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1919057449358675972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Shashank Singh hits &lsquo;out-of-the-stadium&rsquo; shot<o:p></o:p></h2>
On the fourth ball of the 18th over, on the bowling of Avesh Khan, Shashank hit a pull shot that saw the ball land on the roof of the stadium before it bounced out. The shot was hit with such a venom that the ball was not able to be retrieved and a new one was used instead to complete the spell. The shot over the fine leg fielder did not go unnoticed as netizens were quick to react. <o:p></o:p>
One of the social media users wrote, &ldquo;Fetch that one from the mountains! # Shashank Singh lights up Dharamsala with a monstrous six. Power-hitting at it's finest!&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
Another wrote, &ldquo;We genuinely haven&rsquo;t appreciated Shashank Singh enough for his contributions to Punjab Kings. Lord Shashank consistently adds those crucial 10-15 runs that make all the difference.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
The shot even had Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta baffled as she looked stunned in the stands.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-prabhsimran-singh-to-rahul-tewatia-five-uncapped-indian-batters-with-most-ipl-runs-manan-vohra-ayush-badoni-9032282" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">From Prabhsimran Singh to Rahul Tewatia five uncapped Indian batters with most IPL runs</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">PBKS in pole position for win<o:p></o:p></h2>
At the time of writing, LSG were 86/5 in 11.2 overs and were struggling against the fellow North Indian side. In pole for the win, PBKS can reach 15 points with a win and have three matches in hand. Another couple of wins will see the 2014 runners-up officially in the Playoffs while LSG now have a tough run-in if they are to make the cut for the last four.<o:p></o:p>

While innings was highlighted by Prabhsimran Singh it was Shashank Singh who was the star of the show, which included a massive six that was launched out of the stadium. India News | Sports

Punjab Kings had a monumental return to Dharamsala as they posted a massive 236/5, the highest at the venue in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) as they took on Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday (May 4). While innings was highlighted by Prabhsimran Singh’s 91 off 48, it was Shashank Singh who was the star of the show, which included a massive six that was launched out of the stadium. Netizens did not hold back and took note of the excellent shot hit by the Punjab batter. Sent the ball to enjoy the view 🏔😍 Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh with an entertaining partnership tonight 💪 Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/YuAePC273s#TATAIPL | #PBKSvLSG pic.twitter.com/9WqFWRd3zt — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 4, 2025 Shashank Singh hits ‘out-of-the-stadium’ shot On the fourth ball of the 18th over, on the bowling of Avesh Khan, Shashank hit a pull shot that saw the ball land on the roof of the stadium before it bounced out. The shot was hit with such a venom that the ball was not able to be retrieved and a new one was used instead to complete the spell. The shot over the fine leg fielder did not go unnoticed as netizens were quick to react. One of the social media users wrote, “Fetch that one from the mountains! # Shashank Singh lights up Dharamsala with a monstrous six. Power-hitting at it's finest!” Another wrote, “We genuinely haven’t appreciated Shashank Singh enough for his contributions to Punjab Kings. Lord Shashank consistently adds those crucial 10-15 runs that make all the difference.” The shot even had Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta baffled as she looked stunned in the stands. ALSO READ | From Prabhsimran Singh to Rahul Tewatia five uncapped Indian batters with most IPL runs PBKS in pole position for win At the time of writing, LSG were 86/5 in 11.2 overs and were struggling against the fellow North Indian side. In pole for the win, PBKS can reach 15 points with a win and have three matches in hand. Another couple of wins will see the 2014 runners-up officially in the Playoffs while LSG now have a tough run-in if they are to make the cut for the last four.

IPL 2025: Shashank Singh hits massive 'out-of-the-stadium' six, netizens react - Watch

Mitchell Owen, the 23-year-old Australian opener, has replaced injured all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/glenn-maxwell" rel="dofollow">Glenn Maxwell</a> at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings" rel="dofollow">Punjab Kings (PBKS)</a> for the remainder of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a>. The right-handed batter emerged as the breakthrough star for his Big Bash League (BBL) franchise, Hobart Hurricanes, in the past season, amassing 452 runs, including his maiden hundred in the final that helped them lift their first title. However, there is a catch here as Owen needs to abide by his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/psl" rel="dofollow">Pakistan Super League (PSL)</a> commitment before joining PBKS for his maiden IPL stint for INR 3 crore.
The PSL 2025 runs till May 18, and considering Owen&rsquo;s team, Peshawar Zalmi, reaches the final, the rookie batter can leave only after that. Punjab Kings&rsquo; group-stage matches end on May 16, so should Owen get free after the PSL final, he will only be available for the IPL playoffs, should PBKS make it, which begins on May 20. As things stand, Zalmi is fifth on the PSL 2025 points table, with three matches remaining.
<h2>Who is Mitchell Owen?</h2>
Mitchell Owen is a top-order batter from Tasmania, a state that produced several cricketing legends, including former Australia great and current PBKS&nbsp;head coach Ricky Ponting.&nbsp;
Coming off as a regular opener in BBL 2024/25, Owen made the tournament about himself after becoming the highest run-scorer overall that season. He played a starring role in the Hurricanes&rsquo; maiden title-winning run. In the BBL final, he completed a 39-ball hundred, scoring 108 off 42 balls, including 11 sixes and six fours, and winning the Player-of-the-match award.&nbsp;
Owen averaged 45.20 and had a staggering strike rate of 203.60. Since his BBL final heroics, he earned his maiden overseas T20 contract with Paarl Royals in the SA20 the past season, later playing in his second foreign league in the PSL. Ironically, Ponting was the Hurricanes&rsquo; head of strategy in the BBL.
Meanwhile, Owen was Corbin Bosch&rsquo;s replacement at the PSL franchise after the South African seamer signed up for Mumbai Indians in the IPL as an injury replacement for his national teammate Lizaad Williams.&nbsp;
For not abiding by his PSL commitments, Bosch even issued an apology.
"I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the PSL and offer my sincere apologies to the people of Pakistan, the fans of Peshawar Zalmi, and the wider cricket community," Bosch said in a statement released by the PCB at the time.
In IPL 2025, Punjab Kings is fifth on the points table, with four matches remaining.&nbsp;

Mitchell Owen is a top-order batter from Tasmania, a state that produced several cricketing legends, including current PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting. Sports, Cricket

Mitchell Owen, the 23-year-old Australian opener, has replaced injured all-rounder Glenn Maxwell at Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the remainder of IPL 2025. The right-handed batter emerged as the breakthrough star for his Big Bash League (BBL) franchise, Hobart Hurricanes, in the past season, amassing 452 runs, including his maiden hundred in the final that helped them lift their first title. However, there is a catch here as Owen needs to abide by his Pakistan Super League (PSL) commitment before joining PBKS for his maiden IPL stint for INR 3 crore. The PSL 2025 runs till May 18, and considering Owen’s team, Peshawar Zalmi, reaches the final, the rookie batter can leave only after that. Punjab Kings’ group-stage matches end on May 16, so should Owen get free after the PSL final, he will only be available for the IPL playoffs, should PBKS make it, which begins on May 20. As things stand, Zalmi is fifth on the PSL 2025 points table, with three matches remaining. Who is Mitchell Owen? Mitchell Owen is a top-order batter from Tasmania, a state that produced several cricketing legends, including former Australia great and current PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting. Coming off as a regular opener in BBL 2024/25, Owen made the tournament about himself after becoming the highest run-scorer overall that season. He played a starring role in the Hurricanes’ maiden title-winning run. In the BBL final, he completed a 39-ball hundred, scoring 108 off 42 balls, including 11 sixes and six fours, and winning the Player-of-the-match award. Owen averaged 45.20 and had a staggering strike rate of 203.60. Since his BBL final heroics, he earned his maiden overseas T20 contract with Paarl Royals in the SA20 the past season, later playing in his second foreign league in the PSL. Ironically, Ponting was the Hurricanes’ head of strategy in the BBL. Meanwhile, Owen was Corbin Bosch’s replacement at the PSL franchise after the South African seamer signed up for Mumbai Indians in the IPL as an injury replacement for his national teammate Lizaad Williams. For not abiding by his PSL commitments, Bosch even issued an apology. "I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the PSL and offer my sincere apologies to the people of Pakistan, the fans of Peshawar Zalmi, and the wider cricket community," Bosch said in a statement released by the PCB at the time. In IPL 2025, Punjab Kings is fifth on the points table, with four matches remaining.

IPL 2025: Who is 23-year-old Mitchell Owen? Glenn Maxwell’s replacement at PBKS for remainder of season

Punjab Kings (PBKS) all rounder Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out for the remained of the IPL 2025 season with a finger injury. He has anyway had a horrible season with just 48 runs with the bat in six innings played but still is one of the most important asset to have for any team.
Also Read -&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-who-is-rahu-sharma-the-mi-net-bowler-who-replaced-vignesh-puthur-for-rest-of-season-9022972" aria-label="IPL 2025 | Who is Rahu Sharma - the MI net bowler who replaced Vignesh Puthur for rest of the season">IPL 2025 | Who is Rahu Sharma - the MI net bowler who replaced Vignesh Puthur for rest of the season</a>
"It's very unfortunate that he's got a fractured finger," Shreyas Iyer, the PBKS captain, said at the toss for game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Wednesday (Apr 30). "To be honest, we haven't decided about the replacements yet, but we are pretty strong in our team's mindset and what we have outside of our playing XI. We've got a variety of players who can win you matches. So we're going to stick to that as much as possible."
While PBKS haven't named a replacement yet, like they chose not to for pacer Lockie Ferguson, coach Ricky Ponting said that they are currently looking at the pool they have.
"Maxi's only been a couple of days, Lockie's has been two or three weeks. And with the PSL happening at the same time, there's not a lot of high-quality replacements out there, to be honest. So we've just been patient. We're having a look around at Indian talent as well and we're looking at what roles we might be able to fill with some younger Indian players. We'll actually take a couple of guys to Dharamsala with us, a couple of guys trained with us yesterday and they will come with us to Dharamsala. We'll have a closer look at them and they might find themselves with a Punjab contract going forward. It has to be this week, has to be before the 12th game, so stay tuned," Ponting said after win against CSK.
WIth six wins and one nor result in 10 games played, PBKS sit pretty at second stop on the 10-team points table with 13 points.

Maxwell has anyway had a horrible season with just 48 runs with the bat in six innings played but still is one of the most important asset to have for any team. cricket sports

Punjab Kings (PBKS) all rounder Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out for the remained of the IPL 2025 season with a finger injury. He has anyway had a horrible season with just 48 runs with the bat in six innings played but still is one of the most important asset to have for any team. Also Read - IPL 2025 | Who is Rahu Sharma - the MI net bowler who replaced Vignesh Puthur for rest of the season "It's very unfortunate that he's got a fractured finger," Shreyas Iyer, the PBKS captain, said at the toss for game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Wednesday (Apr 30). "To be honest, we haven't decided about the replacements yet, but we are pretty strong in our team's mindset and what we have outside of our playing XI. We've got a variety of players who can win you matches. So we're going to stick to that as much as possible." While PBKS haven't named a replacement yet, like they chose not to for pacer Lockie Ferguson, coach Ricky Ponting said that they are currently looking at the pool they have. "Maxi's only been a couple of days, Lockie's has been two or three weeks. And with the PSL happening at the same time, there's not a lot of high-quality replacements out there, to be honest. So we've just been patient. We're having a look around at Indian talent as well and we're looking at what roles we might be able to fill with some younger Indian players. We'll actually take a couple of guys to Dharamsala with us, a couple of guys trained with us yesterday and they will come with us to Dharamsala. We'll have a closer look at them and they might find themselves with a Punjab contract going forward. It has to be this week, has to be before the 12th game, so stay tuned," Ponting said after win against CSK. WIth six wins and one nor result in 10 games played, PBKS sit pretty at second stop on the 10-team points table with 13 points.

IPL 2025 | PBKS all-rounder Maxwell out for season; Ponting says naming replacement not easy because of PSL

A year after leading <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=kolkata+knight+riders" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kolkata Knight Riders </a>(KKR) to their third IPL title, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=kolkata+knight+riders" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Punjab Kings</a> (PBKS) skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=shreyas+iyer" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Shreyas Iyer </a>is now earning praise from head coach Ricky Ponting for his calmness, maturity, and improved game awareness. The duo, who previously worked together at Delhi Capitals (DC), have reunited at PBKS and are aiming for another playoffs spot this season.
Speaking after Punjab's win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK)&nbsp; on Wednesday (Apr 30) at Chepauk, Ponting highlighted Iyer&rsquo;s evolution. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a lot more confident now. That belief comes with experience,&rdquo; Ponting said. &ldquo;He understands the game better than ever and is calm in pressure situations, a key trait in T20s.&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pahalgam-terror-attack-how-much-lower-will-you-go-dhawan-slams-pakistan-shahid-afridi-for-rhetorical-anti-indian-army-comments-9014081" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pahalgam terror attack | 'How much lower will you go:' Dhawan slams Shahid Afridi for 'pointless' anti-Indian Army comments</a>
<h2>Iyer plans wicket of MS Dhoni</h2>
That calmness was seen when Iyer brought Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=ms+dhoni" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">MS Dhoni</a>, who doesn&rsquo;t have a great record against leg-spinners in the IPL. In the 19th over of CSK&rsquo;s innings, Dhoni hit Chahal for a six over long-on, but on the very next ball, he mistimed a shot and was caught at long-off for 11. Chahal then capitalised on Dhoni's wicket, completing a hat-trick and turning the game in Punjab's favour.
Iyer also led from the front with the bat, scoring a captain&rsquo;s knock of 72 off 41 balls. He picked up pace from 28 off 23 to reach his half-century in just 32 balls. Ponting was full of praise: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s mature, he communicates well with the team, and everyone enjoys working with him. He wanted to finish the game himself, but it was still a top innings.&rdquo;
Iyer has also worked on a long-time weakness against the short ball. Once uncomfortable, he now confidently pulls and hooks. Ponting credited his self-made improvement: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s opened up his stance, sees the ball better, and is accessing those deliveries more easily. It&rsquo;s all his own work.&rdquo;
Former India coach Ravi Shastri also noticed the change, pointing out Iyer&rsquo;s upright stance and better back-and-across movement, which have helped expand his shot range.
With three games left in Dharamsala, a venue where PBKS haven&rsquo;t won in two seasons, Ponting remains hopeful. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s our home ground. We had a good pre-season camp there. I think we&rsquo;ll do well.&rdquo;
PBKS, currently second on the points table, are set to face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Mumbai Indians (MI) in Dharamsala on 04th, 08th and 11th May respectively. Shreyas and his team will look to win these games and aim for a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 playoffs.

After Punjab's win over CSK on Wednesday (Apr 30), Shreyas Iyer earned praise from Ricky Ponting for his calm captaincy in IPL 2025. Cricket Sports

A year after leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title, Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer is now earning praise from head coach Ricky Ponting for his calmness, maturity, and improved game awareness. The duo, who previously worked together at Delhi Capitals (DC), have reunited at PBKS and are aiming for another playoffs spot this season. Speaking after Punjab's win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Wednesday (Apr 30) at Chepauk, Ponting highlighted Iyer’s evolution. “He’s a lot more confident now. That belief comes with experience,” Ponting said. “He understands the game better than ever and is calm in pressure situations, a key trait in T20s.” Also Read: Pahalgam terror attack | 'How much lower will you go:' Dhawan slams Shahid Afridi for 'pointless' anti-Indian Army comments Iyer plans wicket of MS Dhoni That calmness was seen when Iyer brought Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl at MS Dhoni, who doesn’t have a great record against leg-spinners in the IPL. In the 19th over of CSK’s innings, Dhoni hit Chahal for a six over long-on, but on the very next ball, he mistimed a shot and was caught at long-off for 11. Chahal then capitalised on Dhoni's wicket, completing a hat-trick and turning the game in Punjab's favour. Iyer also led from the front with the bat, scoring a captain’s knock of 72 off 41 balls. He picked up pace from 28 off 23 to reach his half-century in just 32 balls. Ponting was full of praise: “He’s mature, he communicates well with the team, and everyone enjoys working with him. He wanted to finish the game himself, but it was still a top innings.” Iyer has also worked on a long-time weakness against the short ball. Once uncomfortable, he now confidently pulls and hooks. Ponting credited his self-made improvement: “He’s opened up his stance, sees the ball better, and is accessing those deliveries more easily. It’s all his own work.” Former India coach Ravi Shastri also noticed the change, pointing out Iyer’s upright stance and better back-and-across movement, which have helped expand his shot range. With three games left in Dharamsala, a venue where PBKS haven’t won in two seasons, Ponting remains hopeful. “It’s our home ground. We had a good pre-season camp there. I think we’ll do well.” PBKS, currently second on the points table, are set to face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Mumbai Indians (MI) in Dharamsala on 04th, 08th and 11th May respectively. Shreyas and his team will look to win these games and aim for a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 playoffs.

IPL 2025: Ricky Ponting praises Shreyas Iyer's calm captaincy and batting technique

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer's 72 off 41 balls along with Yuzvendra Chaha's hat-trick in the first innings helped PBKS beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by four wickets and with two balls to spare in the ongoing Indian Premier League on Wednesday (April 30).
Shreyas (72) along with opener Prabhsimran Singh (54) were the main run-makers for PBKS as they chased down the 191-run target in 19.4 overs.
Earlier in the innings, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) collapsed in the death overs by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuzvendra-chahal">Yuzvendra Chahal</a>&rsquo;s brilliant hat-trick, crumbling from 184/6 to 190 all out in a space of seven balls. It was a stunning turnaround, given the platform set by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sam-curran">Sam Curran</a>&rsquo;s dazzling 88 off 47 balls and a half-century by Shivam Dube.
<h2>Chahal scripts history</h2>
After a quiet start where Shaik Rasheed struggled against the swing of Marco Jansen, CSK found early momentum through Rasheed&rsquo;s burst of boundaries off Arshdeep Singh. But both Rasheed and Ayush Mhatre fell in quick succession, falling into the traps set by Punjab Kings seamers using cutters and scrambled-seam deliveries.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/sara-tendulkars-big-statement-about-future-of-cricket-you-wont-believe-what-she-said-9019819">Sara Tendulkar's BIG statement about future of cricket | You won't believe what she said</a>
The middle overs saw Curran and Dewald Brevis revive the innings with confident strokeplay, especially against the spinners. Curran took on Brar and Chahal with clean footwork, while Brevis chipped in with a handy 32.
Curran&rsquo;s knock was a masterclass in range hitting: he punished anything short with precision pulls and hooks, collecting nine fours and four sixes in total. His dismissal came against the run of play&mdash;a faint edge off Jansen while trying to duck a short one.
The stage was set for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mahendra-singh-dhoni">MS Dhoni</a>, whose arrival triggered deafening roars at Chepauk. He struck Chahal for a trademark six over long-on but fell attempting a similar shot two balls later.
With a wicket already in the over, Chahal dismissed Deepak Hooda and then removed Impact Player Anshul Kamboj on the first ball, foxing him with a skiddy leg-break. On the final ball of the 19th over, he lured Noor Ahmad into a failed big shot, caught smartly by Jansen near the inner ring.

India News, Sports: Shreyas (72) along with opener Prabhsimran Singh (54) were the main run-makers for PBKS as they chased down the 191-run target in 19.4 overs

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer's 72 off 41 balls along with Yuzvendra Chaha's hat-trick in the first innings helped PBKS beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by four wickets and with two balls to spare in the ongoing Indian Premier League on Wednesday (April 30). Shreyas (72) along with opener Prabhsimran Singh (54) were the main run-makers for PBKS as they chased down the 191-run target in 19.4 overs. Earlier in the innings, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) collapsed in the death overs by Yuzvendra Chahal’s brilliant hat-trick, crumbling from 184/6 to 190 all out in a space of seven balls. It was a stunning turnaround, given the platform set by Sam Curran’s dazzling 88 off 47 balls and a half-century by Shivam Dube. Chahal scripts history After a quiet start where Shaik Rasheed struggled against the swing of Marco Jansen, CSK found early momentum through Rasheed’s burst of boundaries off Arshdeep Singh. But both Rasheed and Ayush Mhatre fell in quick succession, falling into the traps set by Punjab Kings seamers using cutters and scrambled-seam deliveries. Also Read: Sara Tendulkar's BIG statement about future of cricket | You won't believe what she said The middle overs saw Curran and Dewald Brevis revive the innings with confident strokeplay, especially against the spinners. Curran took on Brar and Chahal with clean footwork, while Brevis chipped in with a handy 32. Curran’s knock was a masterclass in range hitting: he punished anything short with precision pulls and hooks, collecting nine fours and four sixes in total. His dismissal came against the run of play—a faint edge off Jansen while trying to duck a short one. The stage was set for MS Dhoni, whose arrival triggered deafening roars at Chepauk. He struck Chahal for a trademark six over long-on but fell attempting a similar shot two balls later. With a wicket already in the over, Chahal dismissed Deepak Hooda and then removed Impact Player Anshul Kamboj on the first ball, foxing him with a skiddy leg-break. On the final ball of the 19th over, he lured Noor Ahmad into a failed big shot, caught smartly by Jansen near the inner ring.

IPL 2025: Iyer's masterclass, Chahal's hat-trick helps PBKS beat CSK by four wickets

From SunRisers Hyderabad to Kolkata Knight Riders here's a look at 6 teams with highest Powerplay totals also including Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. Cricket | Sports | Photos

From SunRisers Hyderabad to Kolkata Knight Riders 6 teams with highest Powerplay totals

As Punjab Kings continue their battle for a playoff spot in ongoing IPL 2025, Punjab Kings' opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/prabhsimran-singh">Prabhsimran Singh</a> reflected on a season full of promise. In his seventh year with the franchise, the 24-year-old has emerged as a key player&mdash;both on the field and in the dressing room. Speaking exclusively on Star Sports Press Room with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a> for Race To Playoffs, Prabhsimran Singh&nbsp;shared insights on his journey, the team's mindset, and why he believes this could finally be their breakthrough year.
"For over a decade, Punjab Kings fans have carried great hope and passion, and I deeply feel that support," said Prabhsimran. "Personally, it's been seven years with Punjab Kings, and though I didn&rsquo;t play regularly in the initial seasons, the franchise's faith in me has been a big motivation," he added.
"This season, there&rsquo;s a different energy in the camp," he explained. "We are playing bold, fearless cricket and believe we are dominating games more often than not."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nat-sciver-brunt-appointed-england-womens-captain-across-all-formats-9015054">Nat Sciver-Brunt appointed England women's captain across all formats</a>
While weather disruptions have complicated the playoff equation, the team&rsquo;s belief hasn&rsquo;t wavered. &ldquo;Even though rain affected our last match, we are still confident about playoffs qualification&mdash;and from there, the ultimate goal is lifting the trophy.&rdquo;
<h2 data-start="1345" data-end="1586">'Working with Ponting has been a huge boost'</h2>
Much of that belief stems from the leadership of head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a>. For Prabhsimran, who scored a century against a then Ponting-coached Delhi side, the relationship has been transformative.
&ldquo;Working with Ricky Ponting has been a huge boost,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;His belief in me, especially after that century, meant a lot. He has helped refine my approach, particularly encouraging calculated aggression and better shot selection during the powerplay.&rdquo;
He has also found a strong partner at the top in Priyansh Arya.&nbsp;&ldquo;Batting with Priyansh Arya has been a joy. We're both young and uncapped, learning together and growing match by match.&rdquo;
That growth is supported by a dressing room culture that&rsquo;s noticeably positive. &ldquo;The environment under this coaching and leadership group is pressure-free. Everyone backs each other, celebrates success, and lifts one another on bad days.&rdquo;
That support has helped Prabhsimran develop mentally too. A few seasons ago, not getting consistent chances was tough&mdash;but speaking to legends of the game changed his perspective.
&ldquo;Mentally, I&rsquo;ve grown stronger,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Talking to legends like Sachin Tendulkar helped me during tough phases when I wasn&rsquo;t getting games. His advice to focus on learning instead of worrying about the bench changed everything.&rdquo;
Another boost this year has come from the Impact Player rule, which has added tactical depth and opened doors for players like him.&nbsp;&ldquo;Yes, the Impact Player rule has given many domestic players the chance to shine in pressure situations. That&rsquo;s been one of the best parts of this season&mdash;the rise of Indian youngsters.&rdquo;
Of course, the bigger picture is always on the team&rsquo;s mind. Punjab Kings haven&rsquo;t reached the playoffs since 2014&mdash;a drought that weighs on fans and players alike.
&ldquo;The long wait isn&rsquo;t lost on us,&rdquo; he admits. &ldquo;We talk about it, but instead of pressure, it fuels our determination. We're taking things match by match, staying grounded and focused on playing our best cricket," he signed off.

India News, Sports: Punjab Kings are currently fifth in the IPL points table, having won five matches out of the nine played. They next face CSK on Wednesday (April 30)

As Punjab Kings continue their battle for a playoff spot in ongoing IPL 2025, Punjab Kings' opener Prabhsimran Singh reflected on a season full of promise. In his seventh year with the franchise, the 24-year-old has emerged as a key player—both on the field and in the dressing room. Speaking exclusively on Star Sports Press Room with Punjab Kings for Race To Playoffs, Prabhsimran Singh shared insights on his journey, the team's mindset, and why he believes this could finally be their breakthrough year. "For over a decade, Punjab Kings fans have carried great hope and passion, and I deeply feel that support," said Prabhsimran. "Personally, it's been seven years with Punjab Kings, and though I didn’t play regularly in the initial seasons, the franchise's faith in me has been a big motivation," he added. "This season, there’s a different energy in the camp," he explained. "We are playing bold, fearless cricket and believe we are dominating games more often than not." Also Read: Nat Sciver-Brunt appointed England women's captain across all formats While weather disruptions have complicated the playoff equation, the team’s belief hasn’t wavered. “Even though rain affected our last match, we are still confident about playoffs qualification—and from there, the ultimate goal is lifting the trophy.” 'Working with Ponting has been a huge boost' Much of that belief stems from the leadership of head coach Ricky Ponting. For Prabhsimran, who scored a century against a then Ponting-coached Delhi side, the relationship has been transformative. “Working with Ricky Ponting has been a huge boost,” he said. “His belief in me, especially after that century, meant a lot. He has helped refine my approach, particularly encouraging calculated aggression and better shot selection during the powerplay.” He has also found a strong partner at the top in Priyansh Arya. “Batting with Priyansh Arya has been a joy. We're both young and uncapped, learning together and growing match by match.” That growth is supported by a dressing room culture that’s noticeably positive. “The environment under this coaching and leadership group is pressure-free. Everyone backs each other, celebrates success, and lifts one another on bad days.” That support has helped Prabhsimran develop mentally too. A few seasons ago, not getting consistent chances was tough—but speaking to legends of the game changed his perspective. “Mentally, I’ve grown stronger,” he says. “Talking to legends like Sachin Tendulkar helped me during tough phases when I wasn’t getting games. His advice to focus on learning instead of worrying about the bench changed everything.” Another boost this year has come from the Impact Player rule, which has added tactical depth and opened doors for players like him. “Yes, the Impact Player rule has given many domestic players the chance to shine in pressure situations. That’s been one of the best parts of this season—the rise of Indian youngsters.” Of course, the bigger picture is always on the team’s mind. Punjab Kings haven’t reached the playoffs since 2014—a drought that weighs on fans and players alike. “The long wait isn’t lost on us,” he admits. “We talk about it, but instead of pressure, it fuels our determination. We're taking things match by match, staying grounded and focused on playing our best cricket," he signed off.

IPL 2025: 'We believe this could be our year', says PBKS' Prabhsimran Singh

Punjab Kings' co-owner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/preity-zinta">Preity Zinta</a> on Monday (April 28) heaped praises on her team's captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a>. The Bollywood star described the 30-year-old cricketer as very down-to-earth individual and incredible captain and also being the team's softest spoken player.
Iyer was bought by the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 mega auction for a staggering Rs 26.75 crore. So far, Punjab Kings have won five matches out of the nine played, with one match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens being abandoned due to rain.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pahalgam-terror-attack-india-news-cricket-ex-pakistan-cricketer-danish-kaneria-tears-apart-shahid-afridi-for-his-scathing-india-kills-its-own-people-remark-9010747">Pahalgam terror attack: Ex-PAK spinner tears apart Afridi for his scathing &lsquo;India kills its own people&rsquo; remark</a>
While responding to questions from fans on social media, Punjab Kings' co-owner Preity Zinta said, "Shreyas is a very down to earth guy and an amazing captain. He is very tactical and aggressive in his approach as a player, but the sweetest and the most soft-spoken guy. We are very happy that he is leading Punjab Kings and even happier we could get him in the auction as he was our first and only choice for captaincy, therefore, the whole auction revolved around him for us as a team."
"We still have the second half of the tournament, so I don&rsquo;t want to speak to soon. I hope we put our best foot forward and play to our potential. The biggest plus is how our young talented players are stepping up and showing the world who they are through their play," she added.
<h2>'Virat was a spirited teen when I first met him'</h2>
One of the user also tweeted a picture of her with former Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a> during the recent match between between the two teams, asking her what the conversation between them was.
&ldquo;We were showing each other pictures of our children and talking about them! Time does fly&hellip; When I first met Virat 18 years ago, he was a spirited teenager buzzing with talent and fire &ndash; today he still has that fire and is an icon and a very sweet and doting father," Zinta remarked.
When asked about if she could bring one player back from the Kings 11/Punjab Kings squads of the past, to play this season, Zinta was cautious about her response by saying, "The windscreen is &nbsp;larger than the rear view mirror so, no point going back to the past. It&rsquo;s time to look forward and appreciate what one &nbsp;has in the present and we have the best squad this year."
Another user asked that what has been her biggest learning from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a>. The Bollywood star replied by saying, "IPL is that stage where the hard-working and talented shine! It&rsquo;s probably one of the few places in India where influence and nepotism don&rsquo;t work, just raw talent, hard work and sheer determination triumph. When talent meets opportunity, then sky is the limit," she signed off.

Sports, Entertainment: While responding to questions from fans on social media, Preity Zinta revealed how the whole auction strategy was revolved around Shreyas Iyer

Punjab Kings' co-owner Preity Zinta on Monday (April 28) heaped praises on her team's captain Shreyas Iyer. The Bollywood star described the 30-year-old cricketer as very down-to-earth individual and incredible captain and also being the team's softest spoken player. Iyer was bought by the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 mega auction for a staggering Rs 26.75 crore. So far, Punjab Kings have won five matches out of the nine played, with one match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens being abandoned due to rain. Also Read: Pahalgam terror attack: Ex-PAK spinner tears apart Afridi for his scathing ‘India kills its own people’ remark While responding to questions from fans on social media, Punjab Kings' co-owner Preity Zinta said, "Shreyas is a very down to earth guy and an amazing captain. He is very tactical and aggressive in his approach as a player, but the sweetest and the most soft-spoken guy. We are very happy that he is leading Punjab Kings and even happier we could get him in the auction as he was our first and only choice for captaincy, therefore, the whole auction revolved around him for us as a team." "We still have the second half of the tournament, so I don’t want to speak to soon. I hope we put our best foot forward and play to our potential. The biggest plus is how our young talented players are stepping up and showing the world who they are through their play," she added. 'Virat was a spirited teen when I first met him' One of the user also tweeted a picture of her with former Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Virat Kohli during the recent match between between the two teams, asking her what the conversation between them was. “We were showing each other pictures of our children and talking about them! Time does fly… When I first met Virat 18 years ago, he was a spirited teenager buzzing with talent and fire – today he still has that fire and is an icon and a very sweet and doting father," Zinta remarked. When asked about if she could bring one player back from the Kings 11/Punjab Kings squads of the past, to play this season, Zinta was cautious about her response by saying, "The windscreen is larger than the rear view mirror so, no point going back to the past. It’s time to look forward and appreciate what one has in the present and we have the best squad this year." Another user asked that what has been her biggest learning from the Indian Premier League. The Bollywood star replied by saying, "IPL is that stage where the hard-working and talented shine! It’s probably one of the few places in India where influence and nepotism don’t work, just raw talent, hard work and sheer determination triumph. When talent meets opportunity, then sky is the limit," she signed off.

IPL 2025: PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta says, 'Shreyas Iyer was our first and only choice to lead team'

Punjab Kings' (PBKS) captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a>&rsquo;s sister Shresta Iyer has hit back at the online trolls after PBKS suffered a&nbsp; loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025). RCB managed to avenge their previous loss against Punjab, beating them by seven wickets in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
Post game, Shresta Iyer revealed that she was subjected to trolling by a section of fans for Punjab&rsquo;s loss. However, she was quick to put them in their place through a long post on her Instagram account, mentioning their shallow mindset of going after the player&rsquo;s family.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/cricket-former-australian-cricketer-michael-slater-sentenced-to-four-year-jail-for-domestic-violence-8990176">Former Australian cricketer Michael Slater sentenced to four-year jail for domestic violence</a>
"It's honestly disappointing to see people stoop so low as to blame the family for simply showing up to support. Whether we're physically present or cheering from afar, our support for the team is unwavering. To those pointing fingers at me, your shallow mindset is not only laughable, it's embarrassing. I've been there for countless matches, India's and others and most of them ended in victory. But I guess when you're busy trolling from behind a screen, facts don't matter," wrote Shresta on her Instagram story.
<h2>'I am and always will be proud supporter of my brother and his team'</h2>
Furthermore, Shresta said that the criticism wouldn&rsquo;t stop her from supporting her brother and his team.
&ldquo;I am, and always will be, a proud and positive supporter of my brother and his team. Your baseless criticism doesn't shake me, it just shows your ignorance. Win or lose, I'll be right there supporting them, because that's what real support looks like. Today just wasn't their day. But losses are a part of the game, something you'd know if you had ever done more than type out hate online. So next time, think twice before coming for someone, who's actually doing what you can't...Showing up,&rdquo; she added.
Coming to the match, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;hit an unbeaten 73 as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bengaluru" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)</a>&nbsp;avenged their last game&rsquo;s loss against Punjab Kings with a comfortable seven-wicket win over the hosts in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025</a>&nbsp;on Sunday (April 20). Playing at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh, RCB won their fifth away game this season, climbing to the third spot on the points table with ten points from eight contested matches.

India News, Sports: Post game, Shresta Iyer revealed that she was subjected to trolling by a section of fans for Punjab Kings' loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Punjab Kings' (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer’s sister Shresta Iyer has hit back at the online trolls after PBKS suffered a loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025). RCB managed to avenge their previous loss against Punjab, beating them by seven wickets in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. Post game, Shresta Iyer revealed that she was subjected to trolling by a section of fans for Punjab’s loss. However, she was quick to put them in their place through a long post on her Instagram account, mentioning their shallow mindset of going after the player’s family. Also Read: Former Australian cricketer Michael Slater sentenced to four-year jail for domestic violence "It's honestly disappointing to see people stoop so low as to blame the family for simply showing up to support. Whether we're physically present or cheering from afar, our support for the team is unwavering. To those pointing fingers at me, your shallow mindset is not only laughable, it's embarrassing. I've been there for countless matches, India's and others and most of them ended in victory. But I guess when you're busy trolling from behind a screen, facts don't matter," wrote Shresta on her Instagram story. 'I am and always will be proud supporter of my brother and his team' Furthermore, Shresta said that the criticism wouldn’t stop her from supporting her brother and his team. “I am, and always will be, a proud and positive supporter of my brother and his team. Your baseless criticism doesn't shake me, it just shows your ignorance. Win or lose, I'll be right there supporting them, because that's what real support looks like. Today just wasn't their day. But losses are a part of the game, something you'd know if you had ever done more than type out hate online. So next time, think twice before coming for someone, who's actually doing what you can't...Showing up,” she added. Coming to the match, Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 73 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) avenged their last game’s loss against Punjab Kings with a comfortable seven-wicket win over the hosts in IPL 2025 on Sunday (April 20). Playing at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh, RCB won their fifth away game this season, climbing to the third spot on the points table with ten points from eight contested matches.

IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer's sister Shresta hits back at online trolls after Punjab Kings loss to RCB

PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a> will take on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bengaluru">Royal Challengers Bengaluru</a> on Sunday (Apr 20) at Mullanpur stadium in New Chandigarh. Interestingly, both teams had faced each other in their last encounter on Apr 18 in Chinnaswamy stadium. So, here's our take on who should make it to the Dream11 for the PBKS vs RCB contest.&nbsp;
<h2>PBKS vs RCB Match Preview</h2>
So far in the IPL 2025, PBKS have won five matches out of the seven played. They are coming off a thrilling five-wicket win against RCB. PBKS top order collapsed but it was Nehal Wadhera's heroics that won the game for visitors.&nbsp; On the other hand, RCB are coming into the contest after a defeat against PBKS where they managed to score just 95 in rain-curtailed 28 overs match. It will be interesting to watch who wins the match and remains the top team.&nbsp;
<h2>PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction MyPlaying 11</h2>
Wicketkeeper: Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis 
Batters: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Priyansh Arya
All-Rounders: Krunal Pandya 
Bowlers: Macro Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Josh Hazlewood
<h2>PBKS vs RCB Head-to-Head Record</h2>
Saturday's meeting between PBKS and RCB will be the 35th between the franchises, with the former leading the way with 18 wins. RCB, on the other hand, have won 16 matches, with no contest ending in a no-result.
<h2>3 Top Captain Or Vice-Captain Choices<o:p></o:p></h2>
1. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer has scored 357 runs with a strike rate of 194 in seven innings. He is in good form and scoring very important runs for Punjab, making him an ideal choice for the Captain
2. Virat Kohli
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a> is the leading run-scorer in the history of IPL. He has also performed well and his presence at the crease makes it tough for opponents.
3. Josh Hazlewood
Austrlalian pacer Josh Hazlewood has picked 12 wickets and is currently placed third in the purple cap race. In his last encounter, he had troubled Punjab with a three-wicket haul.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/cricket-ipl-2025-heres-how-many-records-14-year-old-vaibhav-suryavanshi-broke-on-his-ipl-debut-for-rr-against-lsg-8981402" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025: Here's how many records 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi broke on his IPL debut for RR against LSG</a>
<h2>PBKS vs RCB Fantasy Cricket Tips<o:p></o:p></h2>
Josh Hazlewood and Priyansh Arya are the two safest options to have on the team, as they both are in good form. They have been contributing consistently for their respect
<h3>Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Team Analysis<o:p></o:p></h3>
PBKS: The Punjab Kings are coming after securing a five-wicket win against RCB. They would look to continue their winning momentum and claim the top position in points table.
RCB: Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look for a revenge and enter into the top 4 of the points table.
<h2>Mullanpur Stadium Pitch Report<o:p></o:p></h2>
Light rain is expected as per the forecast. The Mullanpur stadium pitch favors batters and offers good assistance to pace bowlers. Teams winning the toss will look to bowl first.
<h2>Suggested playing 11 No. 2 for PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Fantasy Cricket<o:p></o:p></h2>
Wicketkeeper: Dhruv Jurel 
Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Tim David, Rajat Patidar 
All-Rounders: Marcus Stoinis 
Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Yash Dayal 
<h2>Match Prediction: Who Will Win PBKS vs RCB?</h2>
Inspite of PBKS defeating RCB in their last encounter RCB would look to turn the tables. The match will be nail-biter, however we expect RCB to beat PBKS.
Disclaimer: The fantasy tips and facts expressed within this article are the author's personal opinions, and WION does not promote or endorse any sort of betting activity. They do not reflect the views of WION. It is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn. WION does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

India News Sports Cricket  In less than 48 hours PBKS and RCB would be facing each other with the former winning the last encounter in Bengaluru

PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction: Punjab Kings will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday (Apr 20) at Mullanpur stadium in New Chandigarh. Interestingly, both teams had faced each other in their last encounter on Apr 18 in Chinnaswamy stadium. So, here's our take on who should make it to the Dream11 for the PBKS vs RCB contest. PBKS vs RCB Match Preview So far in the IPL 2025, PBKS have won five matches out of the seven played. They are coming off a thrilling five-wicket win against RCB. PBKS top order collapsed but it was Nehal Wadhera's heroics that won the game for visitors. On the other hand, RCB are coming into the contest after a defeat against PBKS where they managed to score just 95 in rain-curtailed 28 overs match. It will be interesting to watch who wins the match and remains the top team. PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction MyPlaying 11 Wicketkeeper: Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis Batters: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Priyansh Arya All-Rounders: Krunal Pandya Bowlers: Macro Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Josh Hazlewood PBKS vs RCB Head-to-Head Record Saturday's meeting between PBKS and RCB will be the 35th between the franchises, with the former leading the way with 18 wins. RCB, on the other hand, have won 16 matches, with no contest ending in a no-result. 3 Top Captain Or Vice-Captain Choices 1. Shreyas Iyer Shreyas Iyer has scored 357 runs with a strike rate of 194 in seven innings. He is in good form and scoring very important runs for Punjab, making him an ideal choice for the Captain 2. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli is the leading run-scorer in the history of IPL. He has also performed well and his presence at the crease makes it tough for opponents. 3. Josh Hazlewood Austrlalian pacer Josh Hazlewood has picked 12 wickets and is currently placed third in the purple cap race. In his last encounter, he had troubled Punjab with a three-wicket haul. ALSO READ | IPL 2025: Here's how many records 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi broke on his IPL debut for RR against LSG PBKS vs RCB Fantasy Cricket Tips Josh Hazlewood and Priyansh Arya are the two safest options to have on the team, as they both are in good form. They have been contributing consistently for their respect Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Team Analysis PBKS: The Punjab Kings are coming after securing a five-wicket win against RCB. They would look to continue their winning momentum and claim the top position in points table. RCB: Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look for a revenge and enter into the top 4 of the points table. Mullanpur Stadium Pitch Report Light rain is expected as per the forecast. The Mullanpur stadium pitch favors batters and offers good assistance to pace bowlers. Teams winning the toss will look to bowl first. Suggested playing 11 No. 2 for PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Wicketkeeper: Dhruv Jurel Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Tim David, Rajat Patidar All-Rounders: Marcus Stoinis Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Yash Dayal Match Prediction: Who Will Win PBKS vs RCB? Inspite of PBKS defeating RCB in their last encounter RCB would look to turn the tables. The match will be nail-biter, however we expect RCB to beat PBKS. Disclaimer: The fantasy tips and facts expressed within this article are the author's personal opinions, and WION does not promote or endorse any sort of betting activity. They do not reflect the views of WION. It is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn. WION does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction: Check Team, captain and vice-captain picks for Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru

While on the one hand, social media influencer RJ Mahvash has maintained that she is single, her constant appearances with India and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a> cricketer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuzvendra-chahal" rel="dofollow">Yuzvendra Chahal</a> have intensified speculation surrounding the two. We do know, for instance, that Mahvash has been spotted numerous times supporting Chahal during IPL matches in which the Punjab Kings are playing.
Ahead of PBKS vs RCB on Sunday (April 20), Mahvash was seen arriving at the airport with Chahal and even getting on the team bus with the leg-spinner. This footage has gotten a lot of people wondering whether the two are indeed in a relationship.
When RJ Mahvash was seen getting on the PBKS team bus, which she isn&rsquo;t part of, it didn&rsquo;t take the fans long to conclude that there&rsquo;s definitely something brewing between the two. It was that act alone from the social media influencer that was enough to spark the rumors.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/cricket-ipl-2025-heres-how-many-records-14-year-old-vaibhav-suryavanshi-broke-on-his-ipl-debut-for-rr-against-lsg-8981402">IPL 2025: Here's how many records 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi broke on his IPL debut for RR against LSG</a>
<div class="publive-dynamic-container dynamic-container"></div>
After struggling at the start of the 18th edition of the IPL, Chahal recently outperformed expectations for PBKS. The franchise&rsquo;s leg spinner single handedly set the tone for the wins against the Kolkata Knight Riders and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bengaluru">Royal Challengers Benguluru</a> in the last two matches. Mahvash even praised Chahal on social media after his four-wicket haul against KKR.
Watch the video here:
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<h2>'I am single'&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
Her recent comment around her relationship status however seems to be the one that leaves fans in the dark.&nbsp;Mahavash had said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m single and completely don&rsquo;t grasp marriage in today&rsquo;s world, &rdquo;during a podcast before going on to elaborate her take on modern marriage.
"I am that&nbsp; who only dates when there is an option to get married. I am not the one for casual dating, definitely not for going out with someone I don't want to get married to. For me, I am this person who like in Dhoom, places this fictional 'wife' and 'kids' right behind him on the bike." &nbsp;
"'Shaadi ka concept samajh nahi aa raha hai', so for now, I have put a brake on it," Mahvash further said.&nbsp;During a podcast, Mahvash's shocking revelation was that she got engaged at age 19 but ended it at 21. So it's safe to say she doesn't rush into anything that isn&rsquo;t guaranteed to yield some long-term results. &nbsp;
"At 19, I was engaged. At 21, that got called off. I had to unlearn traditional marriage norms because... in a small town like Aligarh, the sola saal strikers get marriaged off so mid twenties was considered 'old'. That used to be our goal," she added.

Sports, Entertainment: Ahead of PBKS' match against RCB, Mahvash was spotted exiting the airport with Chahal and boarding the franchise's team bus with the leg-spinner

While on the one hand, social media influencer RJ Mahvash has maintained that she is single, her constant appearances with India and Punjab Kings cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal have intensified speculation surrounding the two. We do know, for instance, that Mahvash has been spotted numerous times supporting Chahal during IPL matches in which the Punjab Kings are playing. Ahead of PBKS vs RCB on Sunday (April 20), Mahvash was seen arriving at the airport with Chahal and even getting on the team bus with the leg-spinner. This footage has gotten a lot of people wondering whether the two are indeed in a relationship. When RJ Mahvash was seen getting on the PBKS team bus, which she isn’t part of, it didn’t take the fans long to conclude that there’s definitely something brewing between the two. It was that act alone from the social media influencer that was enough to spark the rumors. Also Read: IPL 2025: Here's how many records 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi broke on his IPL debut for RR against LSG After struggling at the start of the 18th edition of the IPL, Chahal recently outperformed expectations for PBKS. The franchise’s leg spinner single handedly set the tone for the wins against the Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Benguluru in the last two matches. Mahvash even praised Chahal on social media after his four-wicket haul against KKR. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) 'I am single' Her recent comment around her relationship status however seems to be the one that leaves fans in the dark. Mahavash had said, “I’m single and completely don’t grasp marriage in today’s world, ”during a podcast before going on to elaborate her take on modern marriage. "I am that who only dates when there is an option to get married. I am not the one for casual dating, definitely not for going out with someone I don't want to get married to. For me, I am this person who like in Dhoom, places this fictional 'wife' and 'kids' right behind him on the bike." "'Shaadi ka concept samajh nahi aa raha hai', so for now, I have put a brake on it," Mahvash further said. During a podcast, Mahvash's shocking revelation was that she got engaged at age 19 but ended it at 21. So it's safe to say she doesn't rush into anything that isn’t guaranteed to yield some long-term results. "At 19, I was engaged. At 21, that got called off. I had to unlearn traditional marriage norms because... in a small town like Aligarh, the sola saal strikers get marriaged off so mid twenties was considered 'old'. That used to be our goal," she added.

IPL 2025: RJ Mahvash's latest appearance with PBKS' Yuzvendra Chahal sparks fresh dating buzz-WATCH

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=rcb" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Royal Challengers Bengaluru </a>lost their third match in a row at home in the ongoing IPL 2025 as they were beaten by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a> by 5 wickets in a rain-curtailed, reduced to 14-over match at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=chinnaswamy" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Chinnaswamy Stadium.</a>
Post match, RCB pacer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/josh-hazlewood" rel="dofollow">Josh Hazlewood</a> openly criticised his team. He said that the players are not learning from their past mistakes.&nbsp;"Yeah, I think it's not a typical Chinnaswamy wicket. Obviously, the bounce has always been there, but it's in past years, it's probably been more consistent,&rdquo; Hazlewood said.
He also said that the team&rsquo;s performance in the powerplay was not good, and that made things worse. &nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-responds-to-mca-wankhedes-stand-gesture-i-will-forever-be-grateful-for-this-honour-8977320" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Rohit Sharma responds to MCA Wankhede&rsquo;s Stand gesture: &lsquo;I will forever be grateful for this honour&rsquo;</a>
"Yeah, it's obviously three (defeats) in a row now at home. It's just we've probably been a bit slow on the learnings from the first two games and didn't put that into practice as well as we could have, probably in those first probably six to eight overs, obviously, with the score the way it was," he added.
<h2>'Nehal is a good player'</h2>
Hazlewood still believes the team can bounce back from this situation."But we'll dive into this game and, you know, probably more so when we get back to Bangalore and really go through in detail and with a fine tooth comb and come up with a few ideas of where we can learn and improve. I think the bowling definitely improved from the last two outings. So sort of we're slowly getting there, but probably not quick enough," he said.
On the other hand, Punjab spinner Harpreet Brar praised Nehal Wadhera, who scored 33 not out and finished the match calmly.&nbsp;"Nehal is a very good player. He has been playing in the IPL for the last 2-3 years. He does well domestically as well. Recently, when we won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he played very well in the knockouts. As a senior, I feel very proud," said Brar.
Brar took two wickets in the final over and said he was ready for the challenge.&nbsp;"In small matches, you have to be on your toes. You can get an over anytime. I was ready. It was my first game of the season. I didn't know that I would bowl in the last over," he signed off.

Sports: Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost their third match in a row at home. Post match, RCB pacer Josh Hazlewood criticised team for not learning from past  mistakes

Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost their third match in a row at home in the ongoing IPL 2025 as they were beaten by Punjab Kings by 5 wickets in a rain-curtailed, reduced to 14-over match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Post match, RCB pacer Josh Hazlewood openly criticised his team. He said that the players are not learning from their past mistakes. "Yeah, I think it's not a typical Chinnaswamy wicket. Obviously, the bounce has always been there, but it's in past years, it's probably been more consistent,” Hazlewood said. He also said that the team’s performance in the powerplay was not good, and that made things worse. Also Read: Rohit Sharma responds to MCA Wankhede’s Stand gesture: ‘I will forever be grateful for this honour’ "Yeah, it's obviously three (defeats) in a row now at home. It's just we've probably been a bit slow on the learnings from the first two games and didn't put that into practice as well as we could have, probably in those first probably six to eight overs, obviously, with the score the way it was," he added. 'Nehal is a good player' Hazlewood still believes the team can bounce back from this situation."But we'll dive into this game and, you know, probably more so when we get back to Bangalore and really go through in detail and with a fine tooth comb and come up with a few ideas of where we can learn and improve. I think the bowling definitely improved from the last two outings. So sort of we're slowly getting there, but probably not quick enough," he said. On the other hand, Punjab spinner Harpreet Brar praised Nehal Wadhera, who scored 33 not out and finished the match calmly. "Nehal is a very good player. He has been playing in the IPL for the last 2-3 years. He does well domestically as well. Recently, when we won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he played very well in the knockouts. As a senior, I feel very proud," said Brar. Brar took two wickets in the final over and said he was ready for the challenge. "In small matches, you have to be on your toes. You can get an over anytime. I was ready. It was my first game of the season. I didn't know that I would bowl in the last over," he signed off.

IPL 2025 | As RCB lose again at home, Josh Hazlewood says team is 'slow on learning'

Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffered yet another home defeat, this time at the hands of Punjab Kings in a rain-hit match. RCB managed just 95/9 before Tim David’s fighting fifty gave them hope. However, Punjab chased it down comfortably, thanks to Nehal Wadhera’s steady knock and Josh Hazlewood’s tight spell of 3/14 proving not enough.

IPL: RCB lose third straight home game as Punjab Kings dominate in rain clash

The last time rain interrupted a clash between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bengaluru" rel="dofollow">Royal Challengers Bengaluru</a> (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Virat Kohli batted with five stitches in his hand and brought the house down with a century for the ages. That was 2016, a night of commitment, brilliance, and a storm that couldn&rsquo;t stop a legend.
Nine years later, the rain returned. So did the rivalry. But this time, Punjab Kings wrote their tale under the clouds.
<h2>PBKS turn the tables&nbsp;</h2>
On a rain-hit Friday (April 18) night in Bengaluru, Punjab Kings flipped the script with a clinical win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a match reduced to 14 overs a side. RCB fans hoped for a touch of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=virat+kohli" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kohli</a> magic, but Punjab delivered the knockout punch.&nbsp;
RCB had a bad start, crashing to 43/7 in the ninth over.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/arshdeep-singh" rel="dofollow">Arshdeep Singh</a> struck early, removing Virat Kohli for just 1, followed with wickets kept falling at regular intervals. It was a combined team bowling effort with Arshdeep, Macro Jansen, Chahal and Harpreet Brar claiming two wickets each
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-7-highest-individual-scorers-in-ipl-2025-8977029" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">7 Highest Individual Scorers in IPL 2025</a>
Amid the collapse, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=tim+david" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Tim David</a> stood tall with a fighting fifty, pushing RCB to 95, a total that looked far below from the par score.&nbsp;Punjab&rsquo;s chase began shakily. Both openers fell inside the powerplay, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/josh-hazlewood" rel="dofollow">Josh Hazlewood</a>&rsquo;s double-strike suddenly brought RCB back into the contest. The pressure was building, but Nehal Wadhera stood tall for Punjab.
The left-hander counter-attacked with a blistering 33* off 19 balls. Two towering sixes off Suyash Sharma turned the momentum Punjab's way, before Marcus Stoinis sealed the deal with a boundary in the 12th over.
By this win, Punjab are now in the second position of the points table. Whereas RCB, losing the third match of this season, all at home, have managed to be in the top 4.
Thus, in 2016, when Chinnaswamy echoed Kohli's heroics, it now stood silent with Punjab's storm.

Sports: In a rain-curtailed match, PBKS flipped the script with a clinical win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a match reduced to 14 overs a side

The last time rain interrupted a clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Virat Kohli batted with five stitches in his hand and brought the house down with a century for the ages. That was 2016, a night of commitment, brilliance, and a storm that couldn’t stop a legend. Nine years later, the rain returned. So did the rivalry. But this time, Punjab Kings wrote their tale under the clouds. PBKS turn the tables On a rain-hit Friday (April 18) night in Bengaluru, Punjab Kings flipped the script with a clinical win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a match reduced to 14 overs a side. RCB fans hoped for a touch of Kohli magic, but Punjab delivered the knockout punch. RCB had a bad start, crashing to 43/7 in the ninth over. Arshdeep Singh struck early, removing Virat Kohli for just 1, followed with wickets kept falling at regular intervals. It was a combined team bowling effort with Arshdeep, Macro Jansen, Chahal and Harpreet Brar claiming two wickets each Also Read: 7 Highest Individual Scorers in IPL 2025 Amid the collapse, Tim David stood tall with a fighting fifty, pushing RCB to 95, a total that looked far below from the par score. Punjab’s chase began shakily. Both openers fell inside the powerplay, and Josh Hazlewood’s double-strike suddenly brought RCB back into the contest. The pressure was building, but Nehal Wadhera stood tall for Punjab. The left-hander counter-attacked with a blistering 33* off 19 balls. Two towering sixes off Suyash Sharma turned the momentum Punjab's way, before Marcus Stoinis sealed the deal with a boundary in the 12th over. By this win, Punjab are now in the second position of the points table. Whereas RCB, losing the third match of this season, all at home, have managed to be in the top 4. Thus, in 2016, when Chinnaswamy echoed Kohli's heroics, it now stood silent with Punjab's storm.

IPL 2025 | Same rain, new reign: Punjab Kings rewrite 2016 script

Punjab Kings (PBKS) registered a dominating win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a rain-affected match in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) clash in Bengaluru on Friday (April 18).
PBKS captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a> was all smiles after the win.&nbsp;With the match reduced to 14 overs per side, PBKS chased down a target of 96 in 12.1 overs after restricting RCB to 95/9, thanks to a disciplined bowling effort and a quick cameo by Nehal Wadhera.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Iyer praised the unpredictability of T20 cricket, saying, "Variety is the spice of life, and we are here to experience all kinds of games here; it's a great challenge."
<h2>'All my decisions were instinctive'</h2>
The Punjab skipper also opened up about his on-field decisions during the game, admitting they were largely instinctive.&nbsp;"There was no thinking to be honest, I was just taking instinctive moves. I just didn't want new batters to come in and settle in. Jansen was getting a lot of bounce, and he was bowling lethally," he added.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/marco-jansen">Marco Jansen</a> indeed proved to be a game-changer, with figures of 2/10, and using the surface's bounce to his advantage.
"To be honest, we didn't know how the wicket was going to feel, but the bowlers adapted to it. I had a chat with Arshdeep, and he said the hard-length balls were hard to hit. That was the chatter in the middle, and they executed brilliantly," he remarked.
Meanwhile, Nehal Wadhera, who finished the game with an unbeaten 33 off 19 balls, got special praise from Iyer.&nbsp;"His approach was wonderful today," Iyer said.&nbsp;
Iyer also spoke highly of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuzvendra-chahal">Yuzvendra Chahal</a>, who took 2/11.&nbsp;"I personally had a chat with him and told him that you are a match-winner and you need to get us as many wickets as possible...He has a capability of bouncing back, and he is one of the best bowlers in the IPL," he signed off.

Cricket, Sports: The PBKS skipper credited his bowlers for quickly adapting to the conditions as Marco Jansen proved to be a game-changer, with figures of 2/10

Punjab Kings (PBKS) registered a dominating win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a rain-affected match in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) clash in Bengaluru on Friday (April 18). PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer was all smiles after the win. With the match reduced to 14 overs per side, PBKS chased down a target of 96 in 12.1 overs after restricting RCB to 95/9, thanks to a disciplined bowling effort and a quick cameo by Nehal Wadhera. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Iyer praised the unpredictability of T20 cricket, saying, "Variety is the spice of life, and we are here to experience all kinds of games here; it's a great challenge." 'All my decisions were instinctive' The Punjab skipper also opened up about his on-field decisions during the game, admitting they were largely instinctive. "There was no thinking to be honest, I was just taking instinctive moves. I just didn't want new batters to come in and settle in. Jansen was getting a lot of bounce, and he was bowling lethally," he added. Marco Jansen indeed proved to be a game-changer, with figures of 2/10, and using the surface's bounce to his advantage. "To be honest, we didn't know how the wicket was going to feel, but the bowlers adapted to it. I had a chat with Arshdeep, and he said the hard-length balls were hard to hit. That was the chatter in the middle, and they executed brilliantly," he remarked. Meanwhile, Nehal Wadhera, who finished the game with an unbeaten 33 off 19 balls, got special praise from Iyer. "His approach was wonderful today," Iyer said. Iyer also spoke highly of Yuzvendra Chahal, who took 2/11. "I personally had a chat with him and told him that you are a match-winner and you need to get us as many wickets as possible...He has a capability of bouncing back, and he is one of the best bowlers in the IPL," he signed off.

IPL 2025: 'Variety is spice of life', says PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer after huge win over RCB

Punjab Kings performed the heist of IPL history on Tuesday (Apr 15) after beating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 16 runs while defending 111. It is now the lowest total ever defended by an IPL team in the tournament history. The win was even special for skipper Shreyas Iyer as it came against his previous franchise which let him go ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
After the sensation win, Iyer shared some pictures on his social media handle X with the caption 'Chardi Kala' which is Punjabi for 'ever rising spirits' which was definitely the mood in PBKS camp after the win. Have a look at the post below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chardi Kala ❤️ <a href="https://twitter.com/PunjabKingsIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PunjabKingsIPL</a> 🫶 <a href="https://t.co/mIZUhl3Gb7">pic.twitter.com/mIZUhl3Gb7</a>
&mdash; Shreyas Iyer (@ShreyasIyer15) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShreyasIyer15/status/1912401566989951284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

The win came three days after PBKS failed to defend 245 against SunRisers Hyderabad as Abhishek Sharma took upon himself with a 55-ball 141 to bring Iyer's side down.
Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ipl-2025-chahal-took-fitness-test-before-match-reveals-coach-ponting-after-pbks-stun-kkr-8967423">IPL 2025 | Chahal took fitness test before match, reveals coach Ponting after PBKS stun KKR</a>
The architect of the win was spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who returned with the figures of 4/28 in four overs including his 16-run last over of the quota. PBKS coach Ricky Ponting also revealed that he had undergone fitness test before coming into the game and he was sensational.
KKR were in cruise control mode at 62/2 in a chase of 112 but then Rahane was dismissed and the floodgates opened. After Chahal sent back Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Maxwell removed Venkatesh Iyer and KKR were suddenly 74/5.
In the next over, Chahal removed Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh on two consecutive balls to break the chase open. Marco Jansen removed Harshit Rana in the next over before returning to dismiss Andre Russell as the last wicket.
PBKS are now fourth on the points table with eight points from four wins in six games. They next play Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 18.
Defending champions KKR, on the other hand, are on sixth place with six points from three wins and four losses in seven games. They next play Gujarat Titans on April 21.

The win was even special for skipper Shreyas Iyer as it came against his previous franchise which let him go ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Cricket Sports

Punjab Kings performed the heist of IPL history on Tuesday (Apr 15) after beating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 16 runs while defending 111. It is now the lowest total ever defended by an IPL team in the tournament history. The win was even special for skipper Shreyas Iyer as it came against his previous franchise which let him go ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. After the sensation win, Iyer shared some pictures on his social media handle X with the caption 'Chardi Kala' which is Punjabi for 'ever rising spirits' which was definitely the mood in PBKS camp after the win. Have a look at the post below: Chardi Kala ❤️ @PunjabKingsIPL 🫶 pic.twitter.com/mIZUhl3Gb7 — Shreyas Iyer (@ShreyasIyer15) April 16, 2025 The win came three days after PBKS failed to defend 245 against SunRisers Hyderabad as Abhishek Sharma took upon himself with a 55-ball 141 to bring Iyer's side down. Also Read - IPL 2025 | Chahal took fitness test before match, reveals coach Ponting after PBKS stun KKR The architect of the win was spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who returned with the figures of 4/28 in four overs including his 16-run last over of the quota. PBKS coach Ricky Ponting also revealed that he had undergone fitness test before coming into the game and he was sensational. KKR were in cruise control mode at 62/2 in a chase of 112 but then Rahane was dismissed and the floodgates opened. After Chahal sent back Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Maxwell removed Venkatesh Iyer and KKR were suddenly 74/5. In the next over, Chahal removed Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh on two consecutive balls to break the chase open. Marco Jansen removed Harshit Rana in the next over before returning to dismiss Andre Russell as the last wicket. PBKS are now fourth on the points table with eight points from four wins in six games. They next play Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 18. Defending champions KKR, on the other hand, are on sixth place with six points from three wins and four losses in seven games. They next play Gujarat Titans on April 21.

IPL 2025 | PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer wins heart with TWO-WORD post after win vs KKR

Punjab Kings defended the lowest-ever total in Indian Premier League (IPL) history as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs in a thrilling match on Tuesday (April 15).
Chasing 112 for a win, KKR were comfortably placed at 71 for 3 in 9.1 overs, but they suffered a shocking collapse to be bowled out for 95 in 15.1 overs.&nbsp;KKR lost seven wickets and scored just 24 runs in six overs after that. Yuzvendra Chahal led a stunning comeback for Punjab Kings (PBKS) with figures of 4/28.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/cricket-la-2028-games-ioc-reveals-venue-for-crickets-olympics-return-8966048">LA 2028 Games: IOC reveals venue for cricket&rsquo;s Olympics return</a>
<h2>Low-scoring match</h2>
Earlier in the innings, Punjab Kings suffered a batting collapse after a fiery powerplay spell by Harshit Rana helped defending champions <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> bowl out Punjab Kings (PBKS) for just 111 runs in 15.3 overs at Mullanpur on Tuesday (April 15) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
After electing to bat first, PBKS was off to a fine start. Openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran came out all guns blazing.&nbsp;The duo feasted on Vaibhav Arora's pace, taking him down for 20 runs, with three fours and a six, with Prabhsimran being the aggressor.&nbsp;However, the combo of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/harshit-rana">Harshit Rana</a> and Ramandeep Singh, kickstarted PBKS's downfall, as Priyansh (22 in 12 balls) and skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a> (0) were dismissed in same over. PBKS were left reeling at 39/2 in 3.4 overs.
In the fifth over, Josh Inglis was cleaned up by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/varun-chakaravarthy">Varun Chakaravarthy</a> for just two runs. Punjab Kings were 42/3 in 4.5 overs. In the final over of the powerplay, Prabhsimran launched Harshit for two sixes, unfazed by the loss of wickets. But once again, Prabhsimran was removed by the duo of Harshit-Ramandeep for 30 in 15 balls, with two fours and three sixes. PBKS was 54/4 at the end of powerplay.
Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell tried stitching a partnership. However, Anrich Nortje got Wadhera (10) caught by Venkatesh Iyer while attempting a flick, at deep square leg. PBKS was 74/5 in 8.4 overs. Glenn Maxwell (7) continued his poor run, was dismissed by Varun Chakaravarthy.
Sunil Narine also picked up Suryansh Shedge (4) and Marco Jansen (1). PBKS were struggling at 86/8 in 11 overs.&nbsp;In the 16th over, Shashank (18 in 17 balls, with a four and six) and Xavier Bartlett (11 in 15 balls) were dismissed. PBKS were bundled out for 111 in 15.3 overs.
Harshit (3/25) was the pick of the bowlers for KKR, while Narine (2/14) and Varun (2/21) were also brilliant. Vaibhav and Nortje got a wicket each.

Sports: Yuzvendra Chahal led a stunning comeback for Punjab Kings (PBKS) with figures of 4/28 after KKR bowlers restricted PBKS to 111 runs inside 16 overs

Punjab Kings defended the lowest-ever total in Indian Premier League (IPL) history as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs in a thrilling match on Tuesday (April 15). Chasing 112 for a win, KKR were comfortably placed at 71 for 3 in 9.1 overs, but they suffered a shocking collapse to be bowled out for 95 in 15.1 overs. KKR lost seven wickets and scored just 24 runs in six overs after that. Yuzvendra Chahal led a stunning comeback for Punjab Kings (PBKS) with figures of 4/28. Also Read: LA 2028 Games: IOC reveals venue for cricket’s Olympics return Low-scoring match Earlier in the innings, Punjab Kings suffered a batting collapse after a fiery powerplay spell by Harshit Rana helped defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders bowl out Punjab Kings (PBKS) for just 111 runs in 15.3 overs at Mullanpur on Tuesday (April 15) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. After electing to bat first, PBKS was off to a fine start. Openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran came out all guns blazing. The duo feasted on Vaibhav Arora's pace, taking him down for 20 runs, with three fours and a six, with Prabhsimran being the aggressor. However, the combo of Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh, kickstarted PBKS's downfall, as Priyansh (22 in 12 balls) and skipper Shreyas Iyer (0) were dismissed in same over. PBKS were left reeling at 39/2 in 3.4 overs. In the fifth over, Josh Inglis was cleaned up by Varun Chakaravarthy for just two runs. Punjab Kings were 42/3 in 4.5 overs. In the final over of the powerplay, Prabhsimran launched Harshit for two sixes, unfazed by the loss of wickets. But once again, Prabhsimran was removed by the duo of Harshit-Ramandeep for 30 in 15 balls, with two fours and three sixes. PBKS was 54/4 at the end of powerplay. Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell tried stitching a partnership. However, Anrich Nortje got Wadhera (10) caught by Venkatesh Iyer while attempting a flick, at deep square leg. PBKS was 74/5 in 8.4 overs. Glenn Maxwell (7) continued his poor run, was dismissed by Varun Chakaravarthy. Sunil Narine also picked up Suryansh Shedge (4) and Marco Jansen (1). PBKS were struggling at 86/8 in 11 overs. In the 16th over, Shashank (18 in 17 balls, with a four and six) and Xavier Bartlett (11 in 15 balls) were dismissed. PBKS were bundled out for 111 in 15.3 overs. Harshit (3/25) was the pick of the bowlers for KKR, while Narine (2/14) and Varun (2/21) were also brilliant. Vaibhav and Nortje got a wicket each.

IPL 2025: Chahal casts magic 'spell' as Punjab Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs in low-scoring thriller

Punjab Kings have suffered a major blow as they chase the elusive <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> trophy. Punjab Kings' fast bowling coach on Monday (April 14) said that New Zealand pacer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lockie-ferguson">Lockie Ferguson</a> is all but ruled out for the remainder of the IPL with the pacer's chances of returning towards the back end of the tournament are low.
The New Zealand pacer limped off after bowling just two balls against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunrisers-hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> last week. The 33-year-old, who pulled the side of his left leg, is out indefinitely.
"Ferguson is out indefinitely, I think, and us getting him back by the end of the tournament is a very low percentage. I think he's done a real decent injury to himself," Hopes said during a pre-match press conference.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ipl-2025-lucknow-super-giants-vs-chennai-super-kings-csk-vs-lsg-8962020">IPL 2025 | Helicopter shot and a one-hand six-LSG's Rishabh Pant brings maiden fifty this season vs CSK</a>
Punjab's fielding, too, has been under scrutiny, with multiple dropped catches costing them dearly this season. "That (last game) was a bit disappointing for us. We knew going into it that it was going to be an extremely high-scoring game. We got a great score on the board, but then, unfortunately, our inability to take catches that night made the match disappear on us."
<h2>'We have to improve our fielding'</h2>
"I think we've dropped 12 catches in the tournament now... If we had taken those catches, I think we could be sitting here with a four-and-one record, but we can't do anything other than keep the boys working on it, and keep them trying to improve in the field."&nbsp;
PBKS, who have won three and lost two games so far this season, now face KKR and RCB twice each in their next four fixtures.&nbsp;"We're sitting at 3-2, which is a good spot in the competition, and we've got a big week coming up against the same two opponents, KKR and RCB.
"That's just the way the schedule has worked out for us. We've got them for the next four games. So if we can have a good week, we're going to be well-placed going into the second half of the tournament," he signed off.

Sports: The Kiwi pacer limped off after bowling just two balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad last week. Ferguson, who pulled side of his left leg, is out indefinitely

Punjab Kings have suffered a major blow as they chase the elusive Indian Premier League trophy. Punjab Kings' fast bowling coach on Monday (April 14) said that New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson is all but ruled out for the remainder of the IPL with the pacer's chances of returning towards the back end of the tournament are low. The New Zealand pacer limped off after bowling just two balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad last week. The 33-year-old, who pulled the side of his left leg, is out indefinitely. "Ferguson is out indefinitely, I think, and us getting him back by the end of the tournament is a very low percentage. I think he's done a real decent injury to himself," Hopes said during a pre-match press conference. Also Read: IPL 2025 | Helicopter shot and a one-hand six-LSG's Rishabh Pant brings maiden fifty this season vs CSK Punjab's fielding, too, has been under scrutiny, with multiple dropped catches costing them dearly this season. "That (last game) was a bit disappointing for us. We knew going into it that it was going to be an extremely high-scoring game. We got a great score on the board, but then, unfortunately, our inability to take catches that night made the match disappear on us." 'We have to improve our fielding' "I think we've dropped 12 catches in the tournament now... If we had taken those catches, I think we could be sitting here with a four-and-one record, but we can't do anything other than keep the boys working on it, and keep them trying to improve in the field." PBKS, who have won three and lost two games so far this season, now face KKR and RCB twice each in their next four fixtures. "We're sitting at 3-2, which is a good spot in the competition, and we've got a big week coming up against the same two opponents, KKR and RCB. "That's just the way the schedule has worked out for us. We've got them for the next four games. So if we can have a good week, we're going to be well-placed going into the second half of the tournament," he signed off.

IPL 2025: Punjab Kings' pacer Lockie Ferguson all but ruled out indefinitely

Abhishek Sharma scored a brilliant 141 off 55 balls to help <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunrisers-hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> (SRH) end their four-match losing streak in IPL 2025. Chasing a mammoth total of 246 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Hyderabad, SRH won it comfortably with nine balls to spare, all thanks to Abhishek&rsquo;s record-breaking knock of 141.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/abhishek-sharma">Abhishek Sharma</a> brought out a handwritten note from his pocket after reaching his hundred. It read, &ldquo;This one is for the Orange Army.&rdquo; That showed how much he wanted to contribute for the team and win it for them.
&ldquo;I wrote it today itself,&rdquo; Abhishek said after the match. &ldquo;Because I usually wake up and write something. I got a random thought that if I do something today, that would be for the Orange Army. Luckily, today I felt like it was my day.&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/psl-multan-sultans-to-donate-356-for-every-six-and-wicket-to-palestinian-charities-8957903">PSL: ​Multan Sultans to donate $356 for every six and wicket to Palestinian charities</a>
The left-handed opener hit 14 fours and 10 sixes during his innings. He was involved in a 171-run opening stand with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/travis-head">Travis Head</a> in just 12.2 overs, setting up SRH's highest successful chase this season.
<h2>'I never play anything behind the wicket'</h2>
&ldquo;If you've seen me close enough, I never play anything behind the wicket,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I was still trying few shots because they had a pretty good plan for us outside off. So, I wanted to just invent a few shots which I think was very easy on this pitch because of the bounce and the boundary size on one side.&rdquo;
Coming to the match, SRH were under pressure after four consecutive losses. Both openers had failed to capitalise in recent games. However, Abhishek said the mood in the camp remained positive.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d be lying if I say there was no pressure,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There is pressure if you don&rsquo;t do well in three or four innings, especially if your team&rsquo;s losing. But I never felt that we&rsquo;ve been losing games. Nobody in the team had a negative mindset, there was only positivity from everyone.&rdquo;
With this win, SRH have moved up to eighth on the points table. They next face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday (April17).&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

India News, Cricket, Sports: Abhishek brought out a handwritten note from his pocket after reaching his century in some style. It read, 'This one is for the Orange Army'

Abhishek Sharma scored a brilliant 141 off 55 balls to help Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) end their four-match losing streak in IPL 2025. Chasing a mammoth total of 246 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Hyderabad, SRH won it comfortably with nine balls to spare, all thanks to Abhishek’s record-breaking knock of 141. Abhishek Sharma brought out a handwritten note from his pocket after reaching his hundred. It read, “This one is for the Orange Army.” That showed how much he wanted to contribute for the team and win it for them. “I wrote it today itself,” Abhishek said after the match. “Because I usually wake up and write something. I got a random thought that if I do something today, that would be for the Orange Army. Luckily, today I felt like it was my day.” Also Read: PSL: Multan Sultans to donate $356 for every six and wicket to Palestinian charities The left-handed opener hit 14 fours and 10 sixes during his innings. He was involved in a 171-run opening stand with Travis Head in just 12.2 overs, setting up SRH's highest successful chase this season. 'I never play anything behind the wicket' “If you've seen me close enough, I never play anything behind the wicket,” he said. “But I was still trying few shots because they had a pretty good plan for us outside off. So, I wanted to just invent a few shots which I think was very easy on this pitch because of the bounce and the boundary size on one side.” Coming to the match, SRH were under pressure after four consecutive losses. Both openers had failed to capitalise in recent games. However, Abhishek said the mood in the camp remained positive. “I’d be lying if I say there was no pressure,” he said. “There is pressure if you don’t do well in three or four innings, especially if your team’s losing. But I never felt that we’ve been losing games. Nobody in the team had a negative mindset, there was only positivity from everyone.” With this win, SRH have moved up to eighth on the points table. They next face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday (April17). (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025 | Random thought. Real impact: Abhishek Sharma's blazing 141 lifts SRH and Orange Army

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opening batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/abhishek-sharma">Abhishek Sharma</a> was in red-hot form against Punjab Kings (PBKS) during their Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) clash in Hyderabad on Saturday (April 12). The swashbuckling batsman made a blistering 141 off just 55 balls to help his team register a dominating win. His innings was laced with 14 boundaries and 10 sixes.
Post game, the batter revealed that he was battling fever over the last four days but continued to receive words of encouragement from former India cricketer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuvraj-singh">Yuvraj Singh</a> and current Mumbai Indians vice-captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/suryakumar-yadav">Suryakumar Yadav</a>.
Abhishek was struggling to find rhythm in the last five games until the big game against PBKS.&nbsp;Yuvraj has been a mentor for Abhishek for a long time while Suryakumar is also a good friend. Keeping rivalry aside, Surya encouraged the SRH batter to move ahead of poor form and try to give his best on the field.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ipl-2025-in-a-heartwarming-gesture-mi-captain-hardik-pandya-gifts-his-bat-to-kashvee-gautam-ahead-of-dc-clash-watch-8957565">IPL 2025: In a heartwarming gesture, MI captain Hardik Pandya gifts his bat to Kashvee Gautam ahead of DC clash-WATCH</a>
"To be honest, I was sick for four days-I had a fever. But I feel really grateful to have people like Yuvraj Singh and Suryakumar Yadav around me. They kept calling, kept checking in, and they believed in me," Abhishek said in the post-match press conference.
"Even when I started to doubt myself a little, they didn't. That belief from people like them-it matters a lot. When someone like that believes in you, you start believing in yourself again. For me, it was just about that one innings. I was waiting for it. And today it came," he added.
<h2>'Never felt any negativity in the team'</h2>
Before the start of the Punjab Kings game, Abhishek had only scored 51 runs at an average of 10.50. Abhishek said that there was pressure on him to deliver.
"Of course - if I say there wasn't, I'd be lying. When you don't perform well for three or four innings, and the team loses, the pressure does build up on individual players. But like I said during the post-match ceremony, I never felt any negativity in the team. No one had the mindset of 'we're losing.' Everyone stayed positive," Abhishek said.
"We all knew something big was coming from the team-and luckily, we got to break that four-match losing streak today," the southpaw signed off.
(With inputs from agencies)

India News, Cricket, Sports: Before the start of the PBKS game, Abhishek had only scored 51 runs at an average of 10.50. He said that there was pressure on him to deliver

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opening batter Abhishek Sharma was in red-hot form against Punjab Kings (PBKS) during their Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) clash in Hyderabad on Saturday (April 12). The swashbuckling batsman made a blistering 141 off just 55 balls to help his team register a dominating win. His innings was laced with 14 boundaries and 10 sixes. Post game, the batter revealed that he was battling fever over the last four days but continued to receive words of encouragement from former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh and current Mumbai Indians vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav. Abhishek was struggling to find rhythm in the last five games until the big game against PBKS. Yuvraj has been a mentor for Abhishek for a long time while Suryakumar is also a good friend. Keeping rivalry aside, Surya encouraged the SRH batter to move ahead of poor form and try to give his best on the field. Also Read: IPL 2025: In a heartwarming gesture, MI captain Hardik Pandya gifts his bat to Kashvee Gautam ahead of DC clash-WATCH "To be honest, I was sick for four days-I had a fever. But I feel really grateful to have people like Yuvraj Singh and Suryakumar Yadav around me. They kept calling, kept checking in, and they believed in me," Abhishek said in the post-match press conference. "Even when I started to doubt myself a little, they didn't. That belief from people like them-it matters a lot. When someone like that believes in you, you start believing in yourself again. For me, it was just about that one innings. I was waiting for it. And today it came," he added. 'Never felt any negativity in the team' Before the start of the Punjab Kings game, Abhishek had only scored 51 runs at an average of 10.50. Abhishek said that there was pressure on him to deliver. "Of course - if I say there wasn't, I'd be lying. When you don't perform well for three or four innings, and the team loses, the pressure does build up on individual players. But like I said during the post-match ceremony, I never felt any negativity in the team. No one had the mindset of 'we're losing.' Everyone stayed positive," Abhishek said. "We all knew something big was coming from the team-and luckily, we got to break that four-match losing streak today," the southpaw signed off. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Not Rohit or Hardik: Abhishek Sharma credits THIS MI player for key support

Opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/abhishek-sharma">Abhishek Sharma</a> smashed a scintillating century and shared a 171-run partnership with fellow opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/travis-head">Travis Head</a> as Sunrisers Hyderabad made a mockery of 245-run chase, registering an eight-wicket win against Punjab Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 on Saturday. SRH scaled down the target 247/2 with nine balls to spare.
Abhishek made 141 off 55 deliveries studded with 14 fours and 10 big hits, while Head made 66 off 37 balls as the duo undid the good work done by Punjab Kings' captain Shreyas Iyer, who hit a 36-ball 82 after electing to bat first.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-dcs-ashutosh-sharma-backs-simple-see-ball-hit-ball-plan-ahead-of-clash-against-mumbai-indians-8955763">IPL 2025: DC's Ashutosh Sharma backs simple &lsquo;see ball, hit ball&rsquo; plan ahead of clash against Mumbai Indians</a>
Earlier in the first innings, PBKS' skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer'</a>s fifty and Australian right-hand batter Marcus Stoinis's cameo in the end powered the Punjab Kings (PBKS) side to a massive total of 245/6 in their 20 overs.
<h2>Shreyas scores his third half-century&nbsp;</h2>
PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Batters Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya came out in the middle to open the innings for their side.&nbsp;In the first over, Prabhsimran blasted Mohammed Shami for three fours. In the second over, skipper Pat Cummins gave away 16 runs, with Priyansh being the aggressor with four and six. In the third over, Shami is taken down for three sixes and a four. PBKS is 53/0, with Priyansh (29*) and Prabhsimran (23*) unbeaten.
Debutant Eshan Malinga took his maiden IPL wicket as a fine catch at mid-off from Pat Cummins to dismiss Prabhsimran (42 in 23 balls, with seven fours and a six) at the score of 91 in the seventh over.
Shreyas Iyer went on to score his third half-century of IPL 2025 in just 22 balls, which came with two fours and five sixes.&nbsp;Eshan Malinga got his second wicket, as he removed Nehal for 27 in 22 balls, with two fours and a six. PBKS is 164/3 in 13.3 overs.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Abhishek Sharma made blistering 141 off 55 deliveries. His innings was laced with 14 boundaries and 10 sixes, while Travis Head made 66 off 37 balls

Opener Abhishek Sharma smashed a scintillating century and shared a 171-run partnership with fellow opener Travis Head as Sunrisers Hyderabad made a mockery of 245-run chase, registering an eight-wicket win against Punjab Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 on Saturday. SRH scaled down the target 247/2 with nine balls to spare. Abhishek made 141 off 55 deliveries studded with 14 fours and 10 big hits, while Head made 66 off 37 balls as the duo undid the good work done by Punjab Kings' captain Shreyas Iyer, who hit a 36-ball 82 after electing to bat first. Also Read: IPL 2025: DC's Ashutosh Sharma backs simple ‘see ball, hit ball’ plan ahead of clash against Mumbai Indians Earlier in the first innings, PBKS' skipper Shreyas Iyer's fifty and Australian right-hand batter Marcus Stoinis's cameo in the end powered the Punjab Kings (PBKS) side to a massive total of 245/6 in their 20 overs. Shreyas scores his third half-century PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Batters Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya came out in the middle to open the innings for their side. In the first over, Prabhsimran blasted Mohammed Shami for three fours. In the second over, skipper Pat Cummins gave away 16 runs, with Priyansh being the aggressor with four and six. In the third over, Shami is taken down for three sixes and a four. PBKS is 53/0, with Priyansh (29*) and Prabhsimran (23*) unbeaten. Debutant Eshan Malinga took his maiden IPL wicket as a fine catch at mid-off from Pat Cummins to dismiss Prabhsimran (42 in 23 balls, with seven fours and a six) at the score of 91 in the seventh over. Shreyas Iyer went on to score his third half-century of IPL 2025 in just 22 balls, which came with two fours and five sixes. Eshan Malinga got his second wicket, as he removed Nehal for 27 in 22 balls, with two fours and a six. PBKS is 164/3 in 13.3 overs. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Fiery Abhishek steers SRH to eight-wicket win over Punjab Kings

Young opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/priyansh-arya">Priyansh Arya</a> announced his arrival on the big stage of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> with an awe-inspiring century that helped Punjab Kings beat Chennai Super Kings by 18-runs on Tuesday (April 8).<o:p></o:p>
Arya&rsquo;s match-winning knock was laced with nine sixes and the innings gave a glimpse into his capabilities. But Arya had already exhibited his hard-hitting talent in the Delhi Premier League in August 2024 when he hit six sixes in an over. Along with Ayush Badoni, he forged a partnership of 286, the highest for any wicket in T20 cricket and scored a 50-ball 120 in that match.<o:p></o:p>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-feature-in-los-angeles-2028-olympics-6-teams-90-players-check-history-and-all-you-need-to-know-8946800">Cricket at Los Angeles 2028 Olympics: Check history and all you need to know as six teams and 90 players to feature</a>
Speaking about his game plan in the lead up to the innings, the young batter said, &ldquo;I felt confident from the first one. My game plan was to play proper cricketing shots and capitalise on the loose balls. The credit goes to the entire team management for having faith in me and giving me the freedom. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a> told me to play on my instinct. There were matches when I didn&rsquo;t perform well but Shreyas told me that no matter what, I will be playing all the matches. That belief means everything.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">'New ball was coming nicely'</h2>
&ldquo;The pitch was slightly two-paced but not unplayable. The new ball came on nicely and once I got used to it, I found my rhythm quicky,&rdquo; he added.<o:p></o:p>
Arya, who is trained by Sanjay Bhardwaj, one of the prominent names when it comes to domestic cricket, also acknowledged the growing expectations. He said, &ldquo;I love the big stage. This is where you want to perform and leave a mark.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
&ldquo;I enjoy watching videos of top batters in the world and then work hard in the nets. I always try to improve after every match. I constantly learn from the senior players around me. You can learn a lot by just observing them,&rdquo; he added.<o:p></o:p>

Cricket, Sports: Arya exhibited his hard-hitting talent in the Delhi Premier League last year when he hit six sixes in an over. He was part of South Delhi Superstarz team

Young opener Priyansh Arya announced his arrival on the big stage of the Indian Premier League with an awe-inspiring century that helped Punjab Kings beat Chennai Super Kings by 18-runs on Tuesday (April 8). Arya’s match-winning knock was laced with nine sixes and the innings gave a glimpse into his capabilities. But Arya had already exhibited his hard-hitting talent in the Delhi Premier League in August 2024 when he hit six sixes in an over. Along with Ayush Badoni, he forged a partnership of 286, the highest for any wicket in T20 cricket and scored a 50-ball 120 in that match. Also Read: Cricket at Los Angeles 2028 Olympics: Check history and all you need to know as six teams and 90 players to feature Speaking about his game plan in the lead up to the innings, the young batter said, “I felt confident from the first one. My game plan was to play proper cricketing shots and capitalise on the loose balls. The credit goes to the entire team management for having faith in me and giving me the freedom. Shreyas Iyer told me to play on my instinct. There were matches when I didn’t perform well but Shreyas told me that no matter what, I will be playing all the matches. That belief means everything.” 'New ball was coming nicely' “The pitch was slightly two-paced but not unplayable. The new ball came on nicely and once I got used to it, I found my rhythm quicky,” he added. Arya, who is trained by Sanjay Bhardwaj, one of the prominent names when it comes to domestic cricket, also acknowledged the growing expectations. He said, “I love the big stage. This is where you want to perform and leave a mark.” “I enjoy watching videos of top batters in the world and then work hard in the nets. I always try to improve after every match. I constantly learn from the senior players around me. You can learn a lot by just observing them,” he added.

IPL 2025: ‘This is the stage where you want to perform, says PBKS’ Priyansh after scoring stunning ton against CSK

Glenn Maxwell has been fined and given a demerit point for breaking the IPL code of conduct during the Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings match on Tuesday (April 8 ) at Mullanpur stadium.
Maxwell, the explosive batter for Punjab Kings, got out quickly in the first innings. He was dismissed by CSK spinner R Ashwin on the second ball he faced. After getting out, he reacted in a way that broke the IPL&rsquo;s code of conduct. The IPL did not say exactly what he did, but he was guilty of abuse of fixtures and fittings during the match. This means he may have hit or damaged something in anger.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-been-a-frustrating-season-so-far-acknowledges-csk-coach-fleming-after-loss-vs-pbks-8942017" aria-label="IPL 2025 | 'Been a frustrating season so far' acknowledges CSK coach Fleming after loss vs PBKS">IPL 2025 | 'Been a frustrating season so far' acknowledges CSK coach Fleming after loss vs PBKS</a>
He admitted to the mistake and accepted the punishment. For this Level 1 offence, he was fined 25% of his match fee and got one demerit point on his record.
Maxwell has not had a great season so far. In three matches, he has only scored 30 runs. He started the tournament with a golden duck against Gujarat Titans. In this match too, he couldn&rsquo;t contribute much with the bat, but he did take a wicket during CSK&rsquo;s chase. He got Rachin Ravindra out, with the help of a sharp stumping by Prabhsimran Singh.
Even though Maxwell didn&rsquo;t perform, Punjab Kings could cross over the line. Youngster Priyansh Arya played a brilliant innings of 103 runs from just 42 balls. Shashank Singh (52 off 35) and Marco Jansen (34 off 19) also helped the team reach 219 for 6. They defended the score and won the match by a comfortable margin of18 runs.
Maxwell&rsquo;s poor form and angry reaction are worrying signs, but PBKS fans will hope he makes a strong comeback. Their next game is against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday (Apr 12).

He admitted to the mistake and accepted the punishment. For this Level 1 offence, he was fined 25% of his match fee and got one demerit point on his record. Cricket Sports

Glenn Maxwell has been fined and given a demerit point for breaking the IPL code of conduct during the Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings match on Tuesday (April 8 ) at Mullanpur stadium. Maxwell, the explosive batter for Punjab Kings, got out quickly in the first innings. He was dismissed by CSK spinner R Ashwin on the second ball he faced. After getting out, he reacted in a way that broke the IPL’s code of conduct. The IPL did not say exactly what he did, but he was guilty of abuse of fixtures and fittings during the match. This means he may have hit or damaged something in anger. Also Read: IPL 2025 | 'Been a frustrating season so far' acknowledges CSK coach Fleming after loss vs PBKS He admitted to the mistake and accepted the punishment. For this Level 1 offence, he was fined 25% of his match fee and got one demerit point on his record. Maxwell has not had a great season so far. In three matches, he has only scored 30 runs. He started the tournament with a golden duck against Gujarat Titans. In this match too, he couldn’t contribute much with the bat, but he did take a wicket during CSK’s chase. He got Rachin Ravindra out, with the help of a sharp stumping by Prabhsimran Singh. Even though Maxwell didn’t perform, Punjab Kings could cross over the line. Youngster Priyansh Arya played a brilliant innings of 103 runs from just 42 balls. Shashank Singh (52 off 35) and Marco Jansen (34 off 19) also helped the team reach 219 for 6. They defended the score and won the match by a comfortable margin of18 runs. Maxwell’s poor form and angry reaction are worrying signs, but PBKS fans will hope he makes a strong comeback. Their next game is against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday (Apr 12).

IPL 2025 | PBKS all-rounder Glenn Maxwell fined and handed a demerit point for Code of Conduct breach

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