Punjab Kings captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a> remained upbeat despite his team's first defeat of the IPL 2025 season, highlighting the importance of learnings from their six-wicket loss to the Rajasthan Royals.
The Royals, boosted by a strong opening stand from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yashasvi-jaiswal">Yashasvi Jaiswal</a> and Riyan Parag, posted a commanding 205 in the first innings. Punjab&rsquo;s chase was derailed early by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jofra-archer">Jofra Archer</a>, who picked up two crucial wickets in quick succession to swing momentum Rajasthan's way.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-rr-skipper-sanju-samson-breaks-this-long-standing-record-of-shane-warne-8931563">IPL 2025: RR skipper Sanju Samson breaks THIS long-standing record of Shane Warne</a>
&ldquo;I felt we could have taken it slower and tried to build partnerships, but there are lots of learnings from this game,&rdquo; Iyer said at the post-match presentation. &ldquo;There was no dew as we had anticipated. We&rsquo;ll need to revisit the videos to understand where we went wrong with both our bowling and batting.&rdquo;
<h2 data-start="1078" data-end="1383">'Nehal was phenomenal'</h2>
Punjab&rsquo;s innings was marred by frequent loss of wickets, preventing any meaningful partnerships from forming. However, Iyer lauded young Nehal Wadhera for his composed performance under pressure.
&ldquo;Nehal was phenomenal. He took his time, assessed the conditions well, and then went after the bowlers. It&rsquo;s a good sign for us,&rdquo; Iyer added. &ldquo;Sometimes, a slight hiccup at the start of the tournament helps wake you up. I personally believe this loss will be good for us.&rdquo;
Despite Rajasthan&rsquo;s overall dominance, Parag had a brief lull during his innings before launching a powerful finish. His unbeaten 43 off just 27 balls, laced with three sixes and as many fours, ensured the Royals crossed the 200-run mark.
Iyer, who won the toss and opted to bowl, admitted his target was to keep Rajasthan to a more manageable score.
&ldquo;I was thinking 180-185 would be a decent score to chase here. The pitch had a bit of hold, and we tried not to give them pace. But we failed to execute our plans,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Still, I&rsquo;m glad this happened early in the tournament&mdash;we&rsquo;ve got plenty of time to regroup.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: The Royals set a target of 205. Punjab’s innings was marred by frequent loss of wickets, preventing any meaningful partnerships from forming

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer remained upbeat despite his team's first defeat of the IPL 2025 season, highlighting the importance of learnings from their six-wicket loss to the Rajasthan Royals. The Royals, boosted by a strong opening stand from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag, posted a commanding 205 in the first innings. Punjab’s chase was derailed early by Jofra Archer, who picked up two crucial wickets in quick succession to swing momentum Rajasthan's way. Also Read: IPL 2025: RR skipper Sanju Samson breaks THIS long-standing record of Shane Warne “I felt we could have taken it slower and tried to build partnerships, but there are lots of learnings from this game,” Iyer said at the post-match presentation. “There was no dew as we had anticipated. We’ll need to revisit the videos to understand where we went wrong with both our bowling and batting.” 'Nehal was phenomenal' Punjab’s innings was marred by frequent loss of wickets, preventing any meaningful partnerships from forming. However, Iyer lauded young Nehal Wadhera for his composed performance under pressure. “Nehal was phenomenal. He took his time, assessed the conditions well, and then went after the bowlers. It’s a good sign for us,” Iyer added. “Sometimes, a slight hiccup at the start of the tournament helps wake you up. I personally believe this loss will be good for us.” Despite Rajasthan’s overall dominance, Parag had a brief lull during his innings before launching a powerful finish. His unbeaten 43 off just 27 balls, laced with three sixes and as many fours, ensured the Royals crossed the 200-run mark. Iyer, who won the toss and opted to bowl, admitted his target was to keep Rajasthan to a more manageable score. “I was thinking 180-185 would be a decent score to chase here. The pitch had a bit of hold, and we tried not to give them pace. But we failed to execute our plans,” he said. “Still, I’m glad this happened early in the tournament—we’ve got plenty of time to regroup.” (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'A slight hiccup at start of tournament helps wake you up', PBKS skipper Iyer reflects after loss to RR

Sanju Samson etched his name into Rajasthan Royals&rsquo; (RR) history books on Saturday, becoming the captain with the most wins in the franchise&rsquo;s Indian Premier League (IPL) journey. Samson achieved the milestone during RR&rsquo;s emphatic 50-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Mullanpur.
This marked <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sanju-samson">Sanju Samson</a>&rsquo;s 32nd win as RR skipper, surpassing the late Australian legend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shane-warne">Shane Warne</a>, who led the franchise to 31 wins between 2008 and 2011. Warne, who famously captained RR to their maiden IPL title in 2008, finished his tenure with 31 wins and 24 losses.
Since taking over the reins in 2021, Samson has now led RR in 62 matches, with 32 wins, 29 losses, and one no result. Under his leadership, the Royals reached the IPL final in 2022, finishing runners-up to Gujarat Titans, and made the playoffs again in 2024.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-kl-rahul-20-aggressive-free-and-thriving-at-delhi-capitals-8931488">IPL 2025 | KL Rahul 2.0: Aggressive, free and thriving at Delhi Capitals</a>
Coming to the match, After PBKS won the toss and opted to bowl, RR got off to a flying start, thanks to an 89-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson. Jaiswal top-scored with a fluent 67 off 45 balls, including three fours and five sixes. Samson contributed a quick 38 off 26, striking six boundaries.
Finishing flourishes came from Riyan Parag (43* off 25, 3 fours, 3 sixes) and Shimron Hetmyer (20 off 12, 2 fours, 1 six), helping RR post an imposing total of 205/4 in their 20 overs. Lockie Ferguson led the PBKS bowling attack with figures of 2/37, while Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen picked up one wicket each.
In response, PBKS had a rocky start and were soon reeling at 43/4, courtesy of a fiery spell from Jofra Archer (3/25). A fighting 88-run stand between Nehal Wadhera (62 off 41, 5 fours, 3 sixes) and Glenn Maxwell (30 off 21, 3 fours, 1 six) briefly revived PBKS&rsquo; hopes. However, once they departed, the chase fizzled out.
RR bowlers continued to apply pressure, with Sandeep Sharma (2/21) and Maheesh Theekshana (2/26) providing excellent support. PBKS ultimately stumbled to 155/9 in their 20 overs, suffering their first defeat of IPL 2025.
<h2>We missed the trick: Sunil Joshi</h2>
Following the loss, PBKS spin bowling coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunil-joshi">Sunil Joshi</a> reflected on the tactical choices made during the game. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he admitted that the team may have underutilised their spin resources.
&ldquo;We have a long season ahead. I think we missed the trick&mdash;we could have bowled a couple more overs of spin with Glenn Maxwell and Chahal. So we missed the trick, and going forward, we will look into it,&rdquo; Joshi remarked.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: The win over PBKS was Samson’s 32nd win as RR skipper, surpassing late Australian legend Shane Warne, who led the franchise to 31 wins between 2008-2011

Sanju Samson etched his name into Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) history books on Saturday, becoming the captain with the most wins in the franchise’s Indian Premier League (IPL) journey. Samson achieved the milestone during RR’s emphatic 50-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Mullanpur. This marked Sanju Samson’s 32nd win as RR skipper, surpassing the late Australian legend Shane Warne, who led the franchise to 31 wins between 2008 and 2011. Warne, who famously captained RR to their maiden IPL title in 2008, finished his tenure with 31 wins and 24 losses. Since taking over the reins in 2021, Samson has now led RR in 62 matches, with 32 wins, 29 losses, and one no result. Under his leadership, the Royals reached the IPL final in 2022, finishing runners-up to Gujarat Titans, and made the playoffs again in 2024. Also Read: IPL 2025 | KL Rahul 2.0: Aggressive, free and thriving at Delhi Capitals Coming to the match, After PBKS won the toss and opted to bowl, RR got off to a flying start, thanks to an 89-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson. Jaiswal top-scored with a fluent 67 off 45 balls, including three fours and five sixes. Samson contributed a quick 38 off 26, striking six boundaries. Finishing flourishes came from Riyan Parag (43* off 25, 3 fours, 3 sixes) and Shimron Hetmyer (20 off 12, 2 fours, 1 six), helping RR post an imposing total of 205/4 in their 20 overs. Lockie Ferguson led the PBKS bowling attack with figures of 2/37, while Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen picked up one wicket each. In response, PBKS had a rocky start and were soon reeling at 43/4, courtesy of a fiery spell from Jofra Archer (3/25). A fighting 88-run stand between Nehal Wadhera (62 off 41, 5 fours, 3 sixes) and Glenn Maxwell (30 off 21, 3 fours, 1 six) briefly revived PBKS’ hopes. However, once they departed, the chase fizzled out. RR bowlers continued to apply pressure, with Sandeep Sharma (2/21) and Maheesh Theekshana (2/26) providing excellent support. PBKS ultimately stumbled to 155/9 in their 20 overs, suffering their first defeat of IPL 2025. We missed the trick: Sunil Joshi Following the loss, PBKS spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi reflected on the tactical choices made during the game. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he admitted that the team may have underutilised their spin resources. “We have a long season ahead. I think we missed the trick—we could have bowled a couple more overs of spin with Glenn Maxwell and Chahal. So we missed the trick, and going forward, we will look into it,” Joshi remarked. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: RR skipper Sanju Samson breaks THIS long-standing record of Shane Warne

India's rising Test opener and Rajasthan Royals star <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yashasvi-jaiswal" rel="dofollow">Yashasvi Jaiswal</a> has credited former India head coach and current Royals mentor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rahul-dravid">Rahul Dravid</a> as a pivotal influence on his career, calling him 'an incredible human being' and a rare presence in today&rsquo;s world.
Jaiswal opened up about the impact Dravid has had on him since their early days together during the India U-19 setup.&nbsp;"He is an incredible human being. Having someone like Rahul Dravid Sir in this era is a privilege," said the stylish left-hander, who has quickly grown into a key figure in India&rsquo;s red-ball setup to Jio Hotstar.
Jaiswal praised Dravid not just for his cricketing intellect but for the way he carries himself as a leader and mentor.&nbsp;"He is supportive, caring, and always looking out for everyone. He instills confidence in players, reassures them they&rsquo;re on the right path, and offers guidance that's essential for growth&mdash;both individually and as a team."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/the-silent-maestro-kevin-de-bruynes-etihad-symphony-comes-to-a-close-8928380">The silent maestro: Kevin De Bruyne&rsquo;s Etihad symphony comes to a close</a>
For Jaiswal, every interaction with Dravid is a lesson&mdash;not just in cricket, but in life.&nbsp;"Watching him up close is a learning experience. His grace, composure, and humility are qualities that truly inspire. There&rsquo;s so much more to learn from how he conducts himself off the field."
<h2>A new chapter for Jaiswal</h2>
On the domestic front, Jaiswal has decided to shift from Mumbai to Goa as a professional player and is expected to lead the side in the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ranji-trophy">Ranji Trophy</a>, schedule permitting. While no official reason has been given, sources suggest there may have been differences with senior members of the Mumbai dressing room.
Regardless, Jaiswal is focused on his own growth and development.&nbsp;"I have a lot of belief in myself&mdash;my skills, my thinking, and my abilities. It&rsquo;s my responsibility to shape my career, and I know how much effort that requires."
He emphasised the importance of consistent hard work and discipline.&nbsp;"Cricket demands sacrifice, but people only notice that once you start performing. I know that to succeed, I need to keep working hard&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s in practice, training, diet, or mindset."
"Success doesn&rsquo;t come overnight. It takes time, but if you stay consistent and keep doing the right things, the results will follow," he signed off.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports:  Rajasthan Royals star Jaiswal opened up about the impact Dravid has had on him since their early days together during the India U-19 setup

India's rising Test opener and Rajasthan Royals star Yashasvi Jaiswal has credited former India head coach and current Royals mentor Rahul Dravid as a pivotal influence on his career, calling him 'an incredible human being' and a rare presence in today’s world. Jaiswal opened up about the impact Dravid has had on him since their early days together during the India U-19 setup. "He is an incredible human being. Having someone like Rahul Dravid Sir in this era is a privilege," said the stylish left-hander, who has quickly grown into a key figure in India’s red-ball setup to Jio Hotstar. Jaiswal praised Dravid not just for his cricketing intellect but for the way he carries himself as a leader and mentor. "He is supportive, caring, and always looking out for everyone. He instills confidence in players, reassures them they’re on the right path, and offers guidance that's essential for growth—both individually and as a team." Also Read: The silent maestro: Kevin De Bruyne’s Etihad symphony comes to a close For Jaiswal, every interaction with Dravid is a lesson—not just in cricket, but in life. "Watching him up close is a learning experience. His grace, composure, and humility are qualities that truly inspire. There’s so much more to learn from how he conducts himself off the field." A new chapter for Jaiswal On the domestic front, Jaiswal has decided to shift from Mumbai to Goa as a professional player and is expected to lead the side in the upcoming Ranji Trophy, schedule permitting. While no official reason has been given, sources suggest there may have been differences with senior members of the Mumbai dressing room. Regardless, Jaiswal is focused on his own growth and development. "I have a lot of belief in myself—my skills, my thinking, and my abilities. It’s my responsibility to shape my career, and I know how much effort that requires." He emphasised the importance of consistent hard work and discipline. "Cricket demands sacrifice, but people only notice that once you start performing. I know that to succeed, I need to keep working hard—whether it’s in practice, training, diet, or mindset." "Success doesn’t come overnight. It takes time, but if you stay consistent and keep doing the right things, the results will follow," he signed off. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'Having someone like Dravid sir is a privilege in this era', says RR's Yashasvi Jaiswal

Sanju Samson is set to resume his full leadership role as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rajasthan-royals">Rajasthan Royals</a> captain after receiving clearance from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/national-cricket-academy">National Cricket Academy</a> (NCA) to take up wicket-keeping duties in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Samson had undergone surgery on his right index finger following an injury sustained during India's T20I series against England in February, when he was struck by former RR teammate and England pacer Jofra Archer. As a result, he played only as a specialist batter in Rajasthan Royals' first three matches, with Riyan Parag leading the side in his absence.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-the-value-for-batsmanship-is-no-longer-there-says-kkrs-mentor-dwayne-bravo-ahead-of-their-clash-against-srh-8917998">IPL 2025: 'The value for batsmanship is no longer there', says KKR's mentor Dwayne Bravo ahead of their clash against SRH</a>
The Royals' skipper featured in the season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad as an Impact Player but was substituted out in the games against Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. He scored 66, 13, and 20 runs in the three matches.
<h2>'Samson will return to full leadership'</h2>
"Rajasthan Royals captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sanju-samson">Sanju Samson</a> has received clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to resume wicket-keeping duties following a period of recovery,&rdquo; the franchise announced in a statement. "The clearance comes after a thorough assessment of his fitness by the NCA medical team. With this positive development, Samson will return to his full leadership role and resume captaincy from the team's next match against Punjab Kings.&rdquo;
Currently, Rajasthan Royals sit second-last on the points table, with just one win from their first three matches. The inaugural IPL champions will face Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 5, hoping to turn their fortunes around.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Sanju Samson had undergone surgery on his right index finger following an injury sustained during India's T20I series against England in February 2025

Sanju Samson is set to resume his full leadership role as Rajasthan Royals captain after receiving clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to take up wicket-keeping duties in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Samson had undergone surgery on his right index finger following an injury sustained during India's T20I series against England in February, when he was struck by former RR teammate and England pacer Jofra Archer. As a result, he played only as a specialist batter in Rajasthan Royals' first three matches, with Riyan Parag leading the side in his absence. Also Read: IPL 2025: 'The value for batsmanship is no longer there', says KKR's mentor Dwayne Bravo ahead of their clash against SRH The Royals' skipper featured in the season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad as an Impact Player but was substituted out in the games against Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. He scored 66, 13, and 20 runs in the three matches. 'Samson will return to full leadership' "Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has received clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to resume wicket-keeping duties following a period of recovery,” the franchise announced in a statement. "The clearance comes after a thorough assessment of his fitness by the NCA medical team. With this positive development, Samson will return to his full leadership role and resume captaincy from the team's next match against Punjab Kings.” Currently, Rajasthan Royals sit second-last on the points table, with just one win from their first three matches. The inaugural IPL champions will face Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 5, hoping to turn their fortunes around. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: RR skipper Sanju Samson back at helm again, gets NCA clearance for wicket-keeping duties

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yashasvi-jaiswal">Yashasvi Jaiswal</a> has opted to leave Mumbai and will move to Goa from the next season. He has formally written to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), requesting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to switch his state team from Mumbai to Goa starting the 2025-26 season.
The 23-year-old made his first-class debut for Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium in January 2019 against Chhattisgarh and has made most of his 3,712 first-class runs, including 12 centuries and 12 fifties, in 36 matches for Mumbai.
Goa Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Shambu Desai told that GCA had approached the Indian left-hander, who has quickly established himself across formats and is among the finest players in international cricket as well as the IPL, where he represents Rajasthan Royals. "We are building a strong squad for Goa and aim to acquire top talent, which is why we reached out to him (Jaiswal) recently," Desai was quoted saying to ESPNcricinfo.
Jaiswal&rsquo;s decision to leave Mumbai is influenced by limited opportunities in the team&rsquo;s middle order. With a settled batting line-up, he has found it difficult to get consistent game time. Moving to Goa will provide him with a leadership role and a chance to play a more prominent part in the squad&rsquo;s development.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-rohit-after-worst-ipl-start-since-2020-says-his-immediate-goal-is-8916892">IPL 2025 | Rohit, after worst IPL start since 2020, says his immediate goal is...</a>
<div class="publive-dynamic-container dynamic-container"></div>
Jaiswal last represented Mumbai in their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ranji-trophy">Ranji Trophy</a> Group A match against Jammu and Kashmir from January 23-25, following the BCCI&rsquo;s strict mandate that all India players must participate in domestic cricket when not on national duty.
In that match, Jaiswal featured for the first and only time in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, scoring 4 and 26 as Mumbai suffered a five-wicket defeat to Jammu and Kashmir for just the second time in history.
<h2>Jaiswal struggling to make mark in IPL</h2>
Since making his Test debut against the West Indies in July 2023, Jaiswal has been India&rsquo;s first-choice opener, excelling on the big stage in 19 matches with an average of just over 52, including four centuries and 10 fifties.
Currently playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL), Jaiswal has struggled for form, managing only 34 runs in three matches at an average of 11.33 and a strike rate of 106.25. He will be in action next against Punjab Kings on April 5 in Mullanpur.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Jaiswal has formally written to the Mumbai Cricket Association, requesting a NOC to switch his state team from Mumbai to Goa starting the 2025-26 season

Yashasvi Jaiswal has opted to leave Mumbai and will move to Goa from the next season. He has formally written to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), requesting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to switch his state team from Mumbai to Goa starting the 2025-26 season. The 23-year-old made his first-class debut for Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium in January 2019 against Chhattisgarh and has made most of his 3,712 first-class runs, including 12 centuries and 12 fifties, in 36 matches for Mumbai. Goa Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Shambu Desai told that GCA had approached the Indian left-hander, who has quickly established himself across formats and is among the finest players in international cricket as well as the IPL, where he represents Rajasthan Royals. "We are building a strong squad for Goa and aim to acquire top talent, which is why we reached out to him (Jaiswal) recently," Desai was quoted saying to ESPNcricinfo. Jaiswal’s decision to leave Mumbai is influenced by limited opportunities in the team’s middle order. With a settled batting line-up, he has found it difficult to get consistent game time. Moving to Goa will provide him with a leadership role and a chance to play a more prominent part in the squad’s development. Also Read: IPL 2025 | Rohit, after worst IPL start since 2020, says his immediate goal is... Jaiswal last represented Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy Group A match against Jammu and Kashmir from January 23-25, following the BCCI’s strict mandate that all India players must participate in domestic cricket when not on national duty. In that match, Jaiswal featured for the first and only time in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, scoring 4 and 26 as Mumbai suffered a five-wicket defeat to Jammu and Kashmir for just the second time in history. Jaiswal struggling to make mark in IPL Since making his Test debut against the West Indies in July 2023, Jaiswal has been India’s first-choice opener, excelling on the big stage in 19 matches with an average of just over 52, including four centuries and 10 fifties. Currently playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Jaiswal has struggled for form, managing only 34 runs in three matches at an average of 11.33 and a strike rate of 106.25. He will be in action next against Punjab Kings on April 5 in Mullanpur. (With inputs from agencies)

Here's why Yashasvi Jaiswal is moving to Goa from Mumbai ahead of 2025-26 domestic season

Rajasthan Royals captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/riyan-parag">Riyan Parag</a> has been fined $14,000 for maintaining a slow over rate during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday (March 30).
IPL issued a statement on Monday confirming that the Royals skipper breached the Code of Conduct and was penalised accordingly.
"Riyan Parag, Captain, Rajasthan Royals has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match 11 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium, Guwahati on 30th March, 2025," the statement from IPL read.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2025-doesnt-make-sense-says-india-batter-on-srh-hard-hitting-batting-style-after-two-consecutive-losses-8909239">IPL 2025: 'Doesn't make sense', says India batter on SRH's hard-hitting batting style after two consecutive losses</a>
"As this was his team's first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL's Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Parag was fined ₹12 lakh," the statement concluded.
Riyan is the second captain penalised this season after Mumbai Indians' <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/hardik-pandya">Hardik Pandya</a>, who was fined for MI&rsquo;s slow over-rate against Gujarat Titans.
<h2>Wanindu Hasaranga joins elite club</h2>
Rajasthan Royals' leg-spinner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/wanindu-hasaranga">Wanindu Hasaranga</a> joined an elite club after securing a four-wicket haul against Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing IPL 2025.
Hasaranga dismantled Chennai's chase of 183 on Guwahati&rsquo;s surface. He ripped through CSK&rsquo;s batting order by dismissing Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.
He completed his four-over spell with figures of 4/35, becoming just the third spinner to claim a four-wicket haul against Chennai in IPL history.&nbsp;Former spinner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/harbhajan-singh">Harbhajan Singh</a> was the first to achieve this, taking 5/18 for Mumbai Indians in 2011. Brad Hogg later joined the list with 4/29 for Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens in 2015.
The Sri Lankan spinner also became only the second Royals bowler to take 4+ wickets against CSK after Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir&rsquo;s 6/14 in Jaipur during the inaugural season.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Riyan is the second captain penalised this season after Mumbai Indians' Hardik Pandya, who was fined for MI’s slow over-rate against Gujarat Titans

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has been fined $14,000 for maintaining a slow over rate during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday (March 30). IPL issued a statement on Monday confirming that the Royals skipper breached the Code of Conduct and was penalised accordingly. "Riyan Parag, Captain, Rajasthan Royals has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match 11 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium, Guwahati on 30th March, 2025," the statement from IPL read. Also Read: IPL 2025: 'Doesn't make sense', says India batter on SRH's hard-hitting batting style after two consecutive losses "As this was his team's first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL's Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Parag was fined ₹12 lakh," the statement concluded. Riyan is the second captain penalised this season after Mumbai Indians' Hardik Pandya, who was fined for MI’s slow over-rate against Gujarat Titans. Wanindu Hasaranga joins elite club Rajasthan Royals' leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga joined an elite club after securing a four-wicket haul against Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing IPL 2025. Hasaranga dismantled Chennai's chase of 183 on Guwahati’s surface. He ripped through CSK’s batting order by dismissing Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. He completed his four-over spell with figures of 4/35, becoming just the third spinner to claim a four-wicket haul against Chennai in IPL history. Former spinner Harbhajan Singh was the first to achieve this, taking 5/18 for Mumbai Indians in 2011. Brad Hogg later joined the list with 4/29 for Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens in 2015. The Sri Lankan spinner also became only the second Royals bowler to take 4+ wickets against CSK after Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir’s 6/14 in Jaipur during the inaugural season. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: After Hardik, now RR captain Riyan Parag penalised for slow over rate against CSK

In a beautiful display of sportsmanship, former CSK captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mahendra-singh-dhoni">MS Dhoni</a> shared a heartwarming moment with Rajasthan Royals coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rahul-dravid">Rahul Dravid</a> after Chennai Super Kings&rsquo; match in the ongoing IPL 2025.
Despite CSK suffering a second consecutive defeat in the tournament, Dhoni&rsquo;s focus remained beyond just the game. In a viral video circulating on social media, the former CSK captain can be seen approaching Dravid after the match, engaging in a warm conversation with the legendary cricketer. According to reports, Dravid had sustained a minor injury, and Dhoni took the time to check on his well-being, a gesture that resonated deeply with fans.
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What made the moment even more special was Dhoni&rsquo;s insistence that CSK&rsquo;s young players take the opportunity to greet Dravid. Known for nurturing young talent and instilling the right values in his teammates, Dhoni encouraged the next generation of cricketers to show respect and acknowledge the greatness of the former Indian captain.
<h2>Watch the viral video here:</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
People who know me know how big a fan I am of Dravid &amp; Dhoni. Watching them together on the field was a dream come true ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/QCXsPwwjUR">pic.twitter.com/QCXsPwwjUR</a>
&mdash; .... (@Mrsolivegreen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mrsolivegreen/status/1906575373179228338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

The emotional exchange between the two icons quickly went viral, with fans and cricketing experts hailing Dhoni&rsquo;s humility and respect for the game. Social media platforms were flooded with reactions, with many calling it a 'golden moment' in IPL history. 'Legends respecting legends &ndash; this is what cricket is all about', wrote one fan, while another commented, 'This is why Dhoni is loved across generations!'
Coming to the match, CSK opted to bowl first after winning the toss. After Jaiswal was dismissed early, Nitish Rana and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sanju-samson">Sanju Samson</a> stitched a 82-run partnership. Later on, skipper Riyan Parag (37 in 28 balls) held one end steady, but he kept running out of partners. In the end, RR was restricted to 182/9 in their 20 overs.
During the run-chase, CSK lost <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rachin-ravindra">Rachin Ravindra</a> early for a duck. Following that came a 46-run partnership between Rahul Tripathi and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad put up a strong fight (63 in 44 balls) but his wicket changed the game for CSK, leaving them out at 129/5 in 15.5 overs. MS Dhoni (16 in 10 balls), Ravindra Jadeja (32* in 22 balls) and Jamie Overton (11* in 4 balls) tried their best, but CSK fell six runs short at 176/6 in their 20 overs.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: In a video circulating on social media,  ex-CSK captain can be seen meeting Dravid after the match, also encouraging other young players to meet him

In a beautiful display of sportsmanship, former CSK captain MS Dhoni shared a heartwarming moment with Rajasthan Royals coach Rahul Dravid after Chennai Super Kings’ match in the ongoing IPL 2025. Despite CSK suffering a second consecutive defeat in the tournament, Dhoni’s focus remained beyond just the game. In a viral video circulating on social media, the former CSK captain can be seen approaching Dravid after the match, engaging in a warm conversation with the legendary cricketer. According to reports, Dravid had sustained a minor injury, and Dhoni took the time to check on his well-being, a gesture that resonated deeply with fans. Also Read: How much did Miami Open 2025 winners earn? Full breakdown inside What made the moment even more special was Dhoni’s insistence that CSK’s young players take the opportunity to greet Dravid. Known for nurturing young talent and instilling the right values in his teammates, Dhoni encouraged the next generation of cricketers to show respect and acknowledge the greatness of the former Indian captain. Watch the viral video here: People who know me know how big a fan I am of Dravid & Dhoni. Watching them together on the field was a dream come true ❤️ pic.twitter.com/QCXsPwwjUR — .... (@Mrsolivegreen) March 31, 2025 The emotional exchange between the two icons quickly went viral, with fans and cricketing experts hailing Dhoni’s humility and respect for the game. Social media platforms were flooded with reactions, with many calling it a 'golden moment' in IPL history. 'Legends respecting legends – this is what cricket is all about', wrote one fan, while another commented, 'This is why Dhoni is loved across generations!' Coming to the match, CSK opted to bowl first after winning the toss. After Jaiswal was dismissed early, Nitish Rana and Sanju Samson stitched a 82-run partnership. Later on, skipper Riyan Parag (37 in 28 balls) held one end steady, but he kept running out of partners. In the end, RR was restricted to 182/9 in their 20 overs. During the run-chase, CSK lost Rachin Ravindra early for a duck. Following that came a 46-run partnership between Rahul Tripathi and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad put up a strong fight (63 in 44 balls) but his wicket changed the game for CSK, leaving them out at 129/5 in 15.5 overs. MS Dhoni (16 in 10 balls), Ravindra Jadeja (32* in 22 balls) and Jamie Overton (11* in 4 balls) tried their best, but CSK fell six runs short at 176/6 in their 20 overs. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: MS Dhoni’s heartwarming gesture towards Rahul Dravid after match wins the internet-WATCH

Rajasthan Royals' star leg-spinner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/wanindu-hasaranga">Wanindu Hasaranga</a> drew inspiration from South Indian cinema as he unleashed a &lsquo;Pushpa&rsquo;-style celebration during his match-winning spell against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings">Chennai Super Kings</a> in the ongoing IPL 2025.
The Sri Lankan spinner played a pivotal role in RR&rsquo;s thrilling six-run victory, bagging four crucial wickets in an action-packed Sunday clash. Each time he struck after conceding a six, Hasaranga responded with a cinematic flourish, pulling off Allu Arjun's iconic 'Pushpa' gesture.
"I love to watch Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil films, and I got that from the Pushpa film," Hasaranga revealed after the match.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-ms-dhoni-fails-in-run-chase-as-rajasthan-royals-pile-misery-on-struggling-csk-8908015">IPL 2025: MS Dhoni fails in run chase as Rajasthan Royals pile misery on struggling CSK</a>
His four-wicket haul (4/35) dismantled CSK&rsquo;s batting order, including the prized scalp of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who threatened to take the game away with a blazing 63. Hasaranga named Gaikwad's dismissal as his favorite, crediting a brilliant catch by Riyan Parag.
<h2>'We have good bowling attack'</h2>
"(On the wicket he enjoyed the most) <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ruturaj-gaikwad">Ruturaj Gaikwad</a> because he's a really good player, he batted really well, end of the innings I got him out. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/riyan-parag">Riyan Parag</a> took a brilliant catch, and Shimron Hetmyer was also gun in the field," he said.
Rajasthan Royals&rsquo; bowlers held their nerve to defend 182, bouncing back strongly after two tough outings. Hasaranga highlighted the crucial role he and fellow spinner Maheesh Theekshana play in RR&rsquo;s attack.
"We have a really good bowling attack, especially in the middle overs. Myself and Maheesh have different roles, sometimes with the old ball and sometimes in the middle," he said.
Rajasthan Royals made CSK tilt at the windmills throughout their 182-run defence. CSK's top stars came in and played a couple of shots but eventually perished and surrendered to a six-run loss.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: The Sri Lankan spinner played a pivotal role in RR’s thrilling six-run victory, bagging four crucial wickets in an action-packed Sunday clash

Rajasthan Royals' star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga drew inspiration from South Indian cinema as he unleashed a ‘Pushpa’-style celebration during his match-winning spell against Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing IPL 2025. The Sri Lankan spinner played a pivotal role in RR’s thrilling six-run victory, bagging four crucial wickets in an action-packed Sunday clash. Each time he struck after conceding a six, Hasaranga responded with a cinematic flourish, pulling off Allu Arjun's iconic 'Pushpa' gesture. "I love to watch Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil films, and I got that from the Pushpa film," Hasaranga revealed after the match. Also Read: IPL 2025: MS Dhoni fails in run chase as Rajasthan Royals pile misery on struggling CSK His four-wicket haul (4/35) dismantled CSK’s batting order, including the prized scalp of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who threatened to take the game away with a blazing 63. Hasaranga named Gaikwad's dismissal as his favorite, crediting a brilliant catch by Riyan Parag. 'We have good bowling attack' "(On the wicket he enjoyed the most) Ruturaj Gaikwad because he's a really good player, he batted really well, end of the innings I got him out. Riyan Parag took a brilliant catch, and Shimron Hetmyer was also gun in the field," he said. Rajasthan Royals’ bowlers held their nerve to defend 182, bouncing back strongly after two tough outings. Hasaranga highlighted the crucial role he and fellow spinner Maheesh Theekshana play in RR’s attack. "We have a really good bowling attack, especially in the middle overs. Myself and Maheesh have different roles, sometimes with the old ball and sometimes in the middle," he said. Rajasthan Royals made CSK tilt at the windmills throughout their 182-run defence. CSK's top stars came in and played a couple of shots but eventually perished and surrendered to a six-run loss. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Hasaranga's 'iconic' celebration steals the show against CSK. Deets inside

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

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

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

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

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is up and about with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) picking things from where they left last season - smashing everyone coming in their way. With Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, a.k.a. Travishek, already set for one-two punch, they now have Ishan Kishan at number 3.
Kishan, who landed with SRH after IPL 2025 mega auction shuffle, smacked a belligerent hundred in his first game for them. He batted for 47 balls in total and scored 106 not out as SRH posted 286/6 - the second highest score in the IPL history only behind their 287 posted last season.
IPL 2025: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-harbhajan-singh-tangled-in-big-controversy-with-racist-remark-on-jofra-archer-compares-him-to-kaali-taxi-8884038">Harbhajan Singh tangled in big controversy with 'racist' remark on Jofra Archer. Compares him to...</a>
Kishan was simply too hot for the RR - pretty ironic given Royals are based out of Rajasthan - one of the hottest regions in India.
<h2>Here's how Kishan took apart Rajasthan Royals:&nbsp;</h2>
Kishan's first ball a fuller one on the stumps which he drilled back to the ball - probably gazing the pace, bounce and rest of the parameters before he went into the beast mode - which was on the very next ball and the ball after that.&nbsp;
Kishan drilled two back-to-back fours and showed that he isn't here to play nice. All this happened in the fourth over and by the time powerplay was done - Kishan already had 20 runs off 9 balls which included four fours.
This was only the start of a long afternoon for Rajasthan and Kishan made sure that every bowler, including world-renowned Jofra Archer, felt the heat as well.
The left-hand batting dynamite played eight more balls in the next four overs and smoked 13 more runs which included two more fours. Kishan unleashed himself fully in the 13th over bowled by Archer - hitting the Englishman for three sixes including an inside-out one. In the same over, Kishan completed his half-century off just 25 balls.
In the next three overs, i.e. by the end of 16th, Kishan had amassed 21 runs more off just 11 balls and was batting on 80 off 39 deliveries. He had nine fours and four sixes to his name and SRH was past 200 with four more overs to go.
The batter played only nine of the remaining 24 balls but scored 26 runs, hitting two more of sixes and fours each as RR was all but thankful and relived that the nightmare had ended.
SRH went on to win the match by 44 runs - nearly same as Kishan had scored after peaking in his innings when he had hit Archer for three sixes.
If his form continues like this, the rest of the teams have nothing but more fear and worries for them ahead as this was just the first game SRH had played this season.&nbsp;

SRH went on to with match by 44 runs - nearly same as Kishan had scored after peaking in his innings when he had hit Archer for three sixes. Cricket Sports

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is up and about with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) picking things from where they left last season - smashing everyone coming in their way. With Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, a.k.a. Travishek, already set for one-two punch, they now have Ishan Kishan at number 3. Kishan, who landed with SRH after IPL 2025 mega auction shuffle, smacked a belligerent hundred in his first game for them. He batted for 47 balls in total and scored 106 not out as SRH posted 286/6 - the second highest score in the IPL history only behind their 287 posted last season. IPL 2025: Harbhajan Singh tangled in big controversy with 'racist' remark on Jofra Archer. Compares him to... Kishan was simply too hot for the RR - pretty ironic given Royals are based out of Rajasthan - one of the hottest regions in India. Here's how Kishan took apart Rajasthan Royals: Kishan's first ball a fuller one on the stumps which he drilled back to the ball - probably gazing the pace, bounce and rest of the parameters before he went into the beast mode - which was on the very next ball and the ball after that. Kishan drilled two back-to-back fours and showed that he isn't here to play nice. All this happened in the fourth over and by the time powerplay was done - Kishan already had 20 runs off 9 balls which included four fours. This was only the start of a long afternoon for Rajasthan and Kishan made sure that every bowler, including world-renowned Jofra Archer, felt the heat as well. The left-hand batting dynamite played eight more balls in the next four overs and smoked 13 more runs which included two more fours. Kishan unleashed himself fully in the 13th over bowled by Archer - hitting the Englishman for three sixes including an inside-out one. In the same over, Kishan completed his half-century off just 25 balls. In the next three overs, i.e. by the end of 16th, Kishan had amassed 21 runs more off just 11 balls and was batting on 80 off 39 deliveries. He had nine fours and four sixes to his name and SRH was past 200 with four more overs to go. The batter played only nine of the remaining 24 balls but scored 26 runs, hitting two more of sixes and fours each as RR was all but thankful and relived that the nightmare had ended. SRH went on to win the match by 44 runs - nearly same as Kishan had scored after peaking in his innings when he had hit Archer for three sixes. If his form continues like this, the rest of the teams have nothing but more fear and worries for them ahead as this was just the first game SRH had played this season.

IPL 2025: Ishan Kishan was too hot for Rajasthan after buying into SRH's brute-force ideology

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> is back, and with it comes the excitement, drama, and high-stakes battles that fans eagerly anticipate each year. However, for Rajasthan Royals, this season carries a tinge of loss.
The departure of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jos-buttler">Jos Buttler</a>, one of their most celebrated players, to Gujarat Titans has left a void that won&rsquo;t be easy to fill. Over the years, Buttler wasn&rsquo;t just a key player for Rajasthan; he was the heartbeat of their batting lineup, a mentor to younger players, and a trusted ally of skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sanju-samson">Sanju Samson</a>. His absence raises an important question: will Rajasthan Royals miss him in IPL 2025? The answer is a resounding yes.
Buttler&rsquo;s impact on Rajasthan Royals went far beyond the runs he scored. He was a match-winner, a leader on the field, and a player who could single-handedly turn games in Rajasthan&rsquo;s favor. His record speaks for itself&mdash;over 3,000 runs for the franchise, including a phenomenal 2022 season where he won the Orange Cap with 863 runs and led RR to the final. But it wasn&rsquo;t just about the numbers.
Buttler had the ability to take on the best bowlers in the world, provide explosive starts, and adapt to different match situations. Rajasthan relied heavily on him at the top of the order, and his presence often set the tone for their innings. Now, without him, the team will have to rethink its approach.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ms-dhonis-hotel-room-is-always-open-for-teammates-to-play-fifa-discuss-cricket-reveals-sam-curran-8878384">MS Dhoni&rsquo;s hotel room is always open for teammates to play FIFA, discuss cricket, reveals Sam Curran</a>
One of the biggest voids left by Buttler&rsquo;s departure is his bond with captain Sanju Samson. The duo shared a special partnership both on and off the field. They complemented each other&rsquo;s batting styles, with Samson often playing the anchor while Buttler took on the role of aggressor. Their mutual trust and understanding made Rajasthan&rsquo;s batting lineup more formidable.
<h2>Time for Sanju to step up&nbsp;</h2>
Samson himself admitted that releasing Buttler was one of the hardest decisions he had to make, showing just how much the Englishman meant to the franchise. With Buttler gone, the responsibility on Samson&rsquo;s shoulders has increased significantly, and he will have to take on an even greater leadership role this season.
Rajasthan Royals still have a talented squad, but there&rsquo;s no denying that Buttler&rsquo;s absence will be felt. Yashasvi Jaiswal, one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket, is expected to step up and fill the void at the top. Shimron Hetmyer remains a crucial middle-order finisher, while emerging players like Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag have an opportunity to make a bigger impact. However, replacing a player of Buttler&rsquo;s caliber is never easy. His experience, consistency, and ability to perform under pressure made him irreplaceable.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans will be thrilled to have secured Buttler&rsquo;s services. The 2022 champions, who have been one of the most consistent teams in recent years, now have a player who can change the course of a match within a few overs. His presence not only strengthens their batting but also gives them a leader with immense IPL experience. Rajasthan&rsquo;s loss is certainly Gujarat&rsquo;s gain, and it wouldn&rsquo;t be surprising if Buttler plays a crucial role in their campaign this season.
For Rajasthan, this IPL will be about finding a new identity without one of their biggest stars. They have a strong core and a captain in Samson who has proven his leadership capabilities, but whether they can succeed without Buttler remains to be seen. One thing is certain&mdash;when Rajasthan Royals take the field in IPL 2025, there will be a noticeable absence at the top of the order, and fans will be left wondering what could have been if Buttler was still donning the pink jersey.

Sports, Cricket: Jos Buttler was the heartbeat of their batting lineup, a mentor to younger players, and a trusted ally of skipper Sanju Samson

The Indian Premier League is back, and with it comes the excitement, drama, and high-stakes battles that fans eagerly anticipate each year. However, for Rajasthan Royals, this season carries a tinge of loss. The departure of Jos Buttler, one of their most celebrated players, to Gujarat Titans has left a void that won’t be easy to fill. Over the years, Buttler wasn’t just a key player for Rajasthan; he was the heartbeat of their batting lineup, a mentor to younger players, and a trusted ally of skipper Sanju Samson. His absence raises an important question: will Rajasthan Royals miss him in IPL 2025? The answer is a resounding yes. Buttler’s impact on Rajasthan Royals went far beyond the runs he scored. He was a match-winner, a leader on the field, and a player who could single-handedly turn games in Rajasthan’s favor. His record speaks for itself—over 3,000 runs for the franchise, including a phenomenal 2022 season where he won the Orange Cap with 863 runs and led RR to the final. But it wasn’t just about the numbers. Buttler had the ability to take on the best bowlers in the world, provide explosive starts, and adapt to different match situations. Rajasthan relied heavily on him at the top of the order, and his presence often set the tone for their innings. Now, without him, the team will have to rethink its approach. Also Read: MS Dhoni’s hotel room is always open for teammates to play FIFA, discuss cricket, reveals Sam Curran One of the biggest voids left by Buttler’s departure is his bond with captain Sanju Samson. The duo shared a special partnership both on and off the field. They complemented each other’s batting styles, with Samson often playing the anchor while Buttler took on the role of aggressor. Their mutual trust and understanding made Rajasthan’s batting lineup more formidable. Time for Sanju to step up Samson himself admitted that releasing Buttler was one of the hardest decisions he had to make, showing just how much the Englishman meant to the franchise. With Buttler gone, the responsibility on Samson’s shoulders has increased significantly, and he will have to take on an even greater leadership role this season. Rajasthan Royals still have a talented squad, but there’s no denying that Buttler’s absence will be felt. Yashasvi Jaiswal, one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket, is expected to step up and fill the void at the top. Shimron Hetmyer remains a crucial middle-order finisher, while emerging players like Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag have an opportunity to make a bigger impact. However, replacing a player of Buttler’s caliber is never easy. His experience, consistency, and ability to perform under pressure made him irreplaceable. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans will be thrilled to have secured Buttler’s services. The 2022 champions, who have been one of the most consistent teams in recent years, now have a player who can change the course of a match within a few overs. His presence not only strengthens their batting but also gives them a leader with immense IPL experience. Rajasthan’s loss is certainly Gujarat’s gain, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Buttler plays a crucial role in their campaign this season. For Rajasthan, this IPL will be about finding a new identity without one of their biggest stars. They have a strong core and a captain in Samson who has proven his leadership capabilities, but whether they can succeed without Buttler remains to be seen. One thing is certain—when Rajasthan Royals take the field in IPL 2025, there will be a noticeable absence at the top of the order, and fans will be left wondering what could have been if Buttler was still donning the pink jersey.

Exclusive | IPL 2025: The Buttler did it—Gujarat celebrates, Rajasthan regroups

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals have named Riyan Parag as their new captain for the upcoming season as regular skipper Sanju Samson struggles with fitness. Parag will lead the side in the opening three matches of the IPL 2025 season starting on Saturday (Mar 22). Samson will return to the captaincy role once fit and will participate in all the matches only as a pure batter. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Riyan Parag to lead RR for three matches<o:p></o:p></h2>
&ldquo;Rajasthan Royals have announced that Riyan Parag will lead the team for the first three matches of IPL 2025. The young all-rounder will take charge in the opening fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23, followed by home encounters against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 and five-time champions Chennai Super Kings on March 30,&rdquo; a statement on Rajasthan Royals&rsquo; website read.<o:p></o:p>
In an announcement made on Thursday, the 2008 champions opted to hand Parag the captaincy while Samson continues to recover from a thumb injury he suffered during the Ranji Trophy season. The injury also kept him out of the Ranji Trophy final where his side finished runners-up. However, despite this Samson will continue to feature as a batter in the side indicating he could be used as a make away for the Impact Player.
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Samson will be expected to feature during the batting innings before RR can use their Impact Player option. In this scenario, Dhruv Jurel will keep the wickets for the franchise, giving flexibility in the batting unit.<o:p></o:p>
Under Parag RR will play against SunRisers Hyderabad (away), Kolkata Knight Riders (Guwahati) and Chennai Super Kings (Guwahati) before Samson returns to the captaincy role for the fourth match against Punjab Kings in Chandigarh. RR will play first leg of their home games away in Guwahati before returning to Jaipur, their traditional home on April 13 as they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Sports, Cricket, IPL: Rajasthan Royals have named Riyan Parag as their new captain for the upcoming season as regular skipper Sanju Samson struggles with fitness.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals have named Riyan Parag as their new captain for the upcoming season as regular skipper Sanju Samson struggles with fitness. Parag will lead the side in the opening three matches of the IPL 2025 season starting on Saturday (Mar 22). Samson will return to the captaincy role once fit and will participate in all the matches only as a pure batter. Riyan Parag to lead RR for three matches “Rajasthan Royals have announced that Riyan Parag will lead the team for the first three matches of IPL 2025. The young all-rounder will take charge in the opening fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23, followed by home encounters against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 and five-time champions Chennai Super Kings on March 30,” a statement on Rajasthan Royals’ website read. In an announcement made on Thursday, the 2008 champions opted to hand Parag the captaincy while Samson continues to recover from a thumb injury he suffered during the Ranji Trophy season. The injury also kept him out of the Ranji Trophy final where his side finished runners-up. However, despite this Samson will continue to feature as a batter in the side indicating he could be used as a make away for the Impact Player. ALSO READ | IPL 2025 Exclusive: Story behind Kolkata Knight Riders' new kit and how Shah Rukh Khan played a key role Samson will be expected to feature during the batting innings before RR can use their Impact Player option. In this scenario, Dhruv Jurel will keep the wickets for the franchise, giving flexibility in the batting unit. Under Parag RR will play against SunRisers Hyderabad (away), Kolkata Knight Riders (Guwahati) and Chennai Super Kings (Guwahati) before Samson returns to the captaincy role for the fourth match against Punjab Kings in Chandigarh. RR will play first leg of their home games away in Guwahati before returning to Jaipur, their traditional home on April 13 as they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

IPL 2025: Riyan Parag to lead Rajasthan Royals for opening three matches; unfit Sanju Samson to play as batter

In a massive boost to the Rajasthan Royals, the Indian batting duo of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yashasvi-jaiswal" rel="dofollow">Yashasvi Jaiswal</a> and captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sanju-samson" rel="dofollow">Sanju Samson</a> have recovered from their respective injuries, making themselves available for the side&rsquo;s curtain raiser against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday (Mar 23) in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a>. Jaiswal and Samson are the first team players and key to the side&rsquo;s success in the impending season.
While the attacking opener Jaiswal has recovered from his ankle injury, having already joined the pre-season camp, the skipper has also recovered from a broken index finger he suffered during England T20Is earlier and is likely to re-link with his IPL 2025 squad on Monday (Mar 17) after receiving the green signal from BCCI&rsquo;s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-watch-rahul-dravid-joins-rajasthan-royals-camp-in-crutches-8850200" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025 | WATCH: Rahul Dravid joins Rajasthan Royals camp in crutches</a>
"Samson is joining RR on Monday. He has cleared his fitness test for his batting at the BCCI's CoE, and now the medical team at the CoE is taking his wicket-keeping test as well before releasing him. Regarding Jaiswal, there was a small tear in his ankle. He underwent extensive rehab at BCCI's CoE before being released for the IPL," a source close to the information said in a chat with the Times of India (TOI).
Rajasthan Royals posted Jaiswal&rsquo;s welcome video on its X handle.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8bmk73j-pf5jgjoj-b5blwejg">
JaisBall season has arrived 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/yzgDBCcQvT">pic.twitter.com/yzgDBCcQvT</a>
&mdash; Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1899514149258010926?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
Meanwhile, Jaiswal, who missed out on India&rsquo;s final 15 to mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, had to skip Mumbai&rsquo;s Ranji Trophy semis against Vidarbha due to pain in his ankle, reporting to Bengaluru afterwards.
<h2>Rajasthan Royals&rsquo; IPL 2025 squad &ndash;</h2>
Sanju Samson (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Nitish Rana, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kwena Maphaka, Kunal Rathore and Ashok Sharma
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: India’s batting duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson are two first-team players and key to Rajasthan Royals' success in the impending season.

In a massive boost to the Rajasthan Royals, the Indian batting duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Sanju Samson have recovered from their respective injuries, making themselves available for the side’s curtain raiser against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday (Mar 23) in IPL 2025. Jaiswal and Samson are the first team players and key to the side’s success in the impending season. While the attacking opener Jaiswal has recovered from his ankle injury, having already joined the pre-season camp, the skipper has also recovered from a broken index finger he suffered during England T20Is earlier and is likely to re-link with his IPL 2025 squad on Monday (Mar 17) after receiving the green signal from BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Also read | IPL 2025 | WATCH: Rahul Dravid joins Rajasthan Royals camp in crutches "Samson is joining RR on Monday. He has cleared his fitness test for his batting at the BCCI's CoE, and now the medical team at the CoE is taking his wicket-keeping test as well before releasing him. Regarding Jaiswal, there was a small tear in his ankle. He underwent extensive rehab at BCCI's CoE before being released for the IPL," a source close to the information said in a chat with the Times of India (TOI). Rajasthan Royals posted Jaiswal’s welcome video on its X handle. JaisBall season has arrived 🔥 pic.twitter.com/yzgDBCcQvT — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 11, 2025 Meanwhile, Jaiswal, who missed out on India’s final 15 to mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, had to skip Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy semis against Vidarbha due to pain in his ankle, reporting to Bengaluru afterwards. Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2025 squad – Sanju Samson (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Nitish Rana, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kwena Maphaka, Kunal Rathore and Ashok Sharma (With inputs from agencies)

Massive boost for Rajasthan Royals as star Indian duo joins squad ahead of IPL 2025

Former India coach Rahul Dravid, who took on the job in the same capacity with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals, recently joined the pre-season camp in crutches. Dravid had injured his leg in a local cricket match in Bengaluru while playing alongside his younger son Anvay.
In a post shared by the Royals on social media, Dravid was seen on a golf-kart with his leg secured in a medical boot. The former cricketer then used crutches to move to the training area where he chatted with players including Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Have a look at the video below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
💗➡️🏡 <a href="https://t.co/kdmckJn4bz">pic.twitter.com/kdmckJn4bz</a>
&mdash; Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1900035019609117001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/aussie-t20i-skipper-mitchell-marsh-declared-fit-for-ipl-2025-after-missing-out-champions-trophy-with-injury-8849892">Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury</a>
Dravid returned to Royals after serving the Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) in various capacities including National Cricket Academy (NCA) head, U-19 coach and senior team coach.
He called time with India board after coaching the team to their first ICC title in 11 years with a victory in T20 World Cup 2024.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m876ug5g-vl5f0f92-evhagzxo">
Head Coach Rahul Dravid, who picked up an injury while playing Cricket in Bangalore, is recovering well and will join us today in Jaipur 💗 <a href="https://t.co/TW37tV5Isj">pic.twitter.com/TW37tV5Isj</a>
&mdash; Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1899744969038135609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>Sanju Samson still not over Buttler moving out from RR</h2>
Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson opened up about one of the toughest challenges he has faced&mdash;parting ways with explosive opener Jos Buttler ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Buttler, who joined the Royals in 2018, was a cornerstone of their batting lineup, scoring 3,098 runs in 83 matches at an impressive average of 41.84. However, ahead of the mega auction, Rajasthan decided against retaining the English star, opting to keep six other players instead. As a result, Buttler entered the auction pool, where Gujarat Titans secured him for over $1 million (₹15.75 crore).
Speaking to digital broadcaster Star, Samson expressed his deep bond with Buttler, whom he considers one of his closest friends.
Rajasthan Royals will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Rahul Dravid, who took on the job in same capacity with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals, recently joined the pre-season camp in crutches. Cricket Sports

Former India coach Rahul Dravid, who took on the job in the same capacity with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals, recently joined the pre-season camp in crutches. Dravid had injured his leg in a local cricket match in Bengaluru while playing alongside his younger son Anvay. In a post shared by the Royals on social media, Dravid was seen on a golf-kart with his leg secured in a medical boot. The former cricketer then used crutches to move to the training area where he chatted with players including Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Have a look at the video below: 💗➡️🏡 pic.twitter.com/kdmckJn4bz — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 13, 2025 Also Read: Aussie T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh declared fit for IPL 2025 after missing out Champions Trophy with injury Dravid returned to Royals after serving the Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) in various capacities including National Cricket Academy (NCA) head, U-19 coach and senior team coach. He called time with India board after coaching the team to their first ICC title in 11 years with a victory in T20 World Cup 2024. Head Coach Rahul Dravid, who picked up an injury while playing Cricket in Bangalore, is recovering well and will join us today in Jaipur 💗 pic.twitter.com/TW37tV5Isj — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 12, 2025 Sanju Samson still not over Buttler moving out from RR Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson opened up about one of the toughest challenges he has faced—parting ways with explosive opener Jos Buttler ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Buttler, who joined the Royals in 2018, was a cornerstone of their batting lineup, scoring 3,098 runs in 83 matches at an impressive average of 41.84. However, ahead of the mega auction, Rajasthan decided against retaining the English star, opting to keep six other players instead. As a result, Buttler entered the auction pool, where Gujarat Titans secured him for over $1 million (₹15.75 crore). Speaking to digital broadcaster Star, Samson expressed his deep bond with Buttler, whom he considers one of his closest friends. Rajasthan Royals will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

IPL 2025 | WATCH: Rahul Dravid joins Rajasthan Royals camp in crutches

Rajasthan Royals captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sanju-samson">Sanju Samson</a> opened up about one of the toughest challenges he has faced&mdash;parting ways with explosive opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jos-buttler">Jos Buttler</a> ahead of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) 2025.
Buttler, who joined the Royals in 2018, was a cornerstone of their batting lineup, scoring 3,098 runs in 83 matches at an impressive average of 41.84. However, ahead of the mega auction, Rajasthan decided against retaining the English star, opting to keep six other players instead. As a result, Buttler entered the auction pool, where Gujarat Titans secured him for over $1 million (₹15.75 crore).
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/wpl-2025-indian-batters-fall-behind-foreigners-at-own-home-in-terms-of-scoring-runs-numbers-dont-lie-8847098">WPL 2025: Indian batters fail to score as many runs as foreigners at own home? Numbers don't lie</a>
Speaking to digital broadcaster Star, Samson expressed his deep bond with Buttler, whom he considers one of his closest friends. &ldquo;IPL is not just about leading a team at the highest level; it also helps you build lifelong friendships. Jos and I shared a strong batting partnership over seven years, and letting him go has been one of the most difficult things for me,&rdquo; Samson admitted.
<h2 data-start="580" data-end="950">'He was like an elder brother to me'</h2>
The Rajasthan skipper revealed that he still struggles to accept Buttler's departure, even discussing it with him over dinner during England&rsquo;s recent tour of India. &ldquo;He was like an elder brother to me. When I became captain, he was my vice-captain and played a crucial role in helping me lead the team. During the England series, I told him I still wasn&rsquo;t over it.&rdquo;
Samson also shared his thoughts on the IPL retention rules, saying that while they serve a purpose, they also break long-standing relationships. &ldquo;If I could change one thing about the IPL, it would be the rule of releasing players. While it has its positives, it also means losing connections built over years. It has been tough for me, the franchise, the owners, the coaches&mdash;everyone at RR. Jos was family to us,&rdquo; he added.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rajasthan-royals">Rajasthan Royals</a> will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Buttler joined the Royals in 2018 and left in 2024 after the franchise decided against retaining him before the mega-auction last year

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson opened up about one of the toughest challenges he has faced—parting ways with explosive opener Jos Buttler ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Buttler, who joined the Royals in 2018, was a cornerstone of their batting lineup, scoring 3,098 runs in 83 matches at an impressive average of 41.84. However, ahead of the mega auction, Rajasthan decided against retaining the English star, opting to keep six other players instead. As a result, Buttler entered the auction pool, where Gujarat Titans secured him for over $1 million (₹15.75 crore). Also Read: WPL 2025: Indian batters fail to score as many runs as foreigners at own home? Numbers don't lie Speaking to digital broadcaster Star, Samson expressed his deep bond with Buttler, whom he considers one of his closest friends. “IPL is not just about leading a team at the highest level; it also helps you build lifelong friendships. Jos and I shared a strong batting partnership over seven years, and letting him go has been one of the most difficult things for me,” Samson admitted. 'He was like an elder brother to me' The Rajasthan skipper revealed that he still struggles to accept Buttler's departure, even discussing it with him over dinner during England’s recent tour of India. “He was like an elder brother to me. When I became captain, he was my vice-captain and played a crucial role in helping me lead the team. During the England series, I told him I still wasn’t over it.” Samson also shared his thoughts on the IPL retention rules, saying that while they serve a purpose, they also break long-standing relationships. “If I could change one thing about the IPL, it would be the rule of releasing players. While it has its positives, it also means losing connections built over years. It has been tough for me, the franchise, the owners, the coaches—everyone at RR. Jos was family to us,” he added. Rajasthan Royals will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson still not over...

Rajasthan Royals turned heads on second day of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction 2025 when they acquired 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The batter from India's northern state of Bihar got the final bid of INR 1.1 crore (approx $0.13 million) and will have a chance to flourish with former India head coach and NCA head Rahul Dravid.

There were, however, some questions raised about the teen's real age with an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFIBWZlUijA">old interview on YouTube</a> from last year claiming his age to be 14 years at that time.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/prithvi-shaw-should-be-embarrassed-that-no-one-bid-for-him-says-md-kaif-post-ipl-2025-auction-779291">Prithvi Shaw should be embarrassed that no one bid for him, says Md Kaif post IPL 2025 auction</a>

Vaibhav's father Sanjiv Suryavanshi, however, had quashed all the rumours about his age and said that the batter is ready to undergo age test again.

"When he was 8 and half years old he first appeared for BCCI bone test. He has already played India U-19. We don't fear anyone. He can again undergo age test," Sanjiv told news agency PTI.

The father was proud of his son's achievement in the auction and said: "He is not just my son now but entire Bihar's son. My son has worked hard. At the age of 8 years, he excelled at U-16 district trials. I would take him for his cricket coaching to Samastipur and then take him back."

Suryavanshi senior also recalled the sacrifices the family made for Vaibhav to achieve his dream and noted: "Not just investment, it's big investment. I have sold my land. Financial issues are still there.”

Vaibhav first hit the limelight when he was selected for India U-19 Test against touring Australia U-19 team in Chennai's iconic MA Chidambaram stadium in October last month. The 13-year-old, who made his Ranji Debut ahead 12 years and 284 days, went on to hit a 58-ball hundred in his first red-ball game for India across levels.

It'll be interesting to see how the batter, if given the opportunity, performs in arguably the biggest T20 league across the world.

Rajasthan Royals turned heads on second day of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction 2025 when they acquired 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

Rajasthan Royals turned heads on second day of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction 2025 when they acquired 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The batter from India's northern state of Bihar got the final bid of INR 1.1 crore (approx $0.13 million) and will have a chance to flourish with former India head coach and NCA head Rahul Dravid. There were, however, some questions raised about the teen's real age with an old interview on YouTube from last year claiming his age to be 14 years at that time. Also Read: Prithvi Shaw should be embarrassed that no one bid for him, says Md Kaif post IPL 2025 auction Vaibhav's father Sanjiv Suryavanshi, however, had quashed all the rumours about his age and said that the batter is ready to undergo age test again. "When he was 8 and half years old he first appeared for BCCI bone test. He has already played India U-19. We don't fear anyone. He can again undergo age test," Sanjiv told news agency PTI. The father was proud of his son's achievement in the auction and said: "He is not just my son now but entire Bihar's son. My son has worked hard. At the age of 8 years, he excelled at U-16 district trials. I would take him for his cricket coaching to Samastipur and then take him back." Suryavanshi senior also recalled the sacrifices the family made for Vaibhav to achieve his dream and noted: "Not just investment, it's big investment. I have sold my land. Financial issues are still there.” Vaibhav first hit the limelight when he was selected for India U-19 Test against touring Australia U-19 team in Chennai's iconic MA Chidambaram stadium in October last month. The 13-year-old, who made his Ranji Debut ahead 12 years and 284 days, went on to hit a 58-ball hundred in his first red-ball game for India across levels. It'll be interesting to see how the batter, if given the opportunity, performs in arguably the biggest T20 league across the world.

IPL 2025: RR's 13-year-old mega auction pick Vaibhav Suryavanshi's father quashes fake age claim

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) auction saw several records broken as teams splashed almost $76mn to add depth to their squad. The auctions held on Nov 24 and 25 were one of a kind with Rishabh Pant breaking the record for most expensive player in the history of the tournament with a price tag of INR 27mn ($3.2mn). However, another Indian player Vaibhav Suryavanshi is doing the rounds after he was bought by Rajasthan Royals for INR 11mn ($130,000).

<h2>Who is Rajasthan Royals' uncapped star Vaibhav Suryavanshi?</h2>

Hailing from Samsatipur, a small town in the Indian state of Bihar, Vaibhav is just 13 and will don the colours of former champions Rajasthan during IPL 2025. Vaibhav was born on 27 Mar 2011, days before India won the ODI World Cup under MS Dhoni’s leadership. A young prospect, he is regarded as one of the best players of the current generation. He represented Bihar in first-class cricket at 12, creating headlines way before he landed an IPL deal.

He scored a hundred against Australia U19 while representing India U19 in Chennai in September, prompting the scouting teams of several franchises to bid for him. His 104-run knock also saw him become the youngest player to score a hundred for India in youth cricket. The hundred against Australia also saw him break the record of current Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who scored a ton when he was 14 years and 241 days old.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bgt-202425-india-head-coach-gautam-gambhir-to-return-home-due-to-family-emergency-report-779261">BGT 2024/25: India head coach Gautam Gambhir to return home due to family emergency - Report</a>

<h2>Rajasthan Royals go big in IPL 2025 mega auction</h2>

While Vaibhav did the rounds for RR, the team coached by former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid also splashed&nbsp;cash on some big names. The franchise acquired the services of Jofra Archer for INR 125mn ($1.48mn) as he returned to the side in a second spell. Maheesh Theekshana ($520,000) and Wanindu Hasaranga ($623,000) were also the big names who joined the franchise. RR already have players like Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag as they look to end their 17-year drought to win the IPL title.

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) auction saw several records broken as teams splashed almost $76mn to add depth to their squad. The auctions held on Nov 24 and 25 were one of a kind with Rishabh Pant breaking the record for most expensive player in the history of the tournament with a price tag of INR 27mn ($3.

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) auction saw several records broken as teams splashed almost $76mn to add depth to their squad. The auctions held on Nov 24 and 25 were one of a kind with Rishabh Pant breaking the record for most expensive player in the history of the tournament with a price tag of INR 27mn ($3.2mn). However, another Indian player Vaibhav Suryavanshi is doing the rounds after he was bought by Rajasthan Royals for INR 11mn ($130,000). Who is Rajasthan Royals' uncapped star Vaibhav Suryavanshi? Hailing from Samsatipur, a small town in the Indian state of Bihar, Vaibhav is just 13 and will don the colours of former champions Rajasthan during IPL 2025. Vaibhav was born on 27 Mar 2011, days before India won the ODI World Cup under MS Dhoni’s leadership. A young prospect, he is regarded as one of the best players of the current generation. He represented Bihar in first-class cricket at 12, creating headlines way before he landed an IPL deal. He scored a hundred against Australia U19 while representing India U19 in Chennai in September, prompting the scouting teams of several franchises to bid for him. His 104-run knock also saw him become the youngest player to score a hundred for India in youth cricket. The hundred against Australia also saw him break the record of current Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who scored a ton when he was 14 years and 241 days old. ALSO READ | BGT 2024/25: India head coach Gautam Gambhir to return home due to family emergency - Report Rajasthan Royals go big in IPL 2025 mega auction While Vaibhav did the rounds for RR, the team coached by former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid also splashed cash on some big names. The franchise acquired the services of Jofra Archer for INR 125mn ($1.48mn) as he returned to the side in a second spell. Maheesh Theekshana ($520,000) and Wanindu Hasaranga ($623,000) were also the big names who joined the franchise. RR already have players like Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag as they look to end their 17-year drought to win the IPL title.

IPL 2025 mega auction: Who is Rajasthan Royals' uncapped star Vaibhav Suryavanshi?

The 2024 edition of the program, a high-octane national talent search to discover the next generation of India’s fast bowlers, is here. The competition, jointly run by Red Bull and Rajasthan Royals, offers young aspiring bowlers the chance to prove their skills, compete regionally and nationally, and train with elite coaches and Rajasthan Royals’ stars.

The program was conceived with the aim of giving wings to amateur pacers with a stage where they could showcase their raw talent. The first edition was held in 2020 with qualifiers taking place in multiple cities, and the top fast bowlers from across the country competing in a national final.

Red Bull Speedster 2024 powered by Rajasthan Royals will take place across nine cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Jaipur, offering participants a shot at training at the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Center and access to expert coaching along with the chance to become a net bowler with the Royals under the purview of their Bowling Coach Shane Bond.

Bond, who has been serving as the Bowling Coach of the Royals in the IPL, and former Head Coach of Paarl Royals in South Africa, expressed his delight at the prospect: "Over the years, I've seen firsthand how raw talent, when given the right guidance and exposure, can transform into something special.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/watch-cristiano-ronaldo-misses-96th-minute-penalty-as-al-nassr-crash-out-of-king-cup-771885">WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo misses 96th minute penalty as Al-Nassr crash out of King Cup</a>

Red Bull Speedster powered by Rajasthan Royals offers just that – an incredible platform for young bowlers to not only showcase their skills but to learn and evolve. This is an exciting opportunity to work with these emerging talents again in the build-up to the IPL and see their growth, both technically and mentally. I'm eager to help nurture the next wave of Indian fast bowlers who can make a significant impact within the Royals franchise as well."

<h2>Schedule:</h2>

• October 26: Spartan &amp; DSP Academy, Jodhpur

• October 27: Shivaji Sports Complex, New Delhi

• November 7: Rajasthan Royals Academy, Mulhana, Jaipur

• November 8: Jaipuriya Cricket Ground, Lucknow

• November 10: Changsari High School Play Ground, Guwahati

• November 16: TKR College Ground, Hyderabad

• November 17: Sumangali Ground, Chennai

• November 24: Shivay Cricket Academy, Ahmedabad

The 2024 edition of the program, a high-octane national talent search to discover the next generation of India’s fast bowlers, is here. The competition, jointly run by Red Bull and Rajasthan Royals, offers young aspiring bowlers the chance to prove their skills, compete regionally and nationally, and train with elite coaches and Rajasthan Royals’ stars.

The 2024 edition of the program, a high-octane national talent search to discover the next generation of India’s fast bowlers, is here. The competition, jointly run by Red Bull and Rajasthan Royals, offers young aspiring bowlers the chance to prove their skills, compete regionally and nationally, and train with elite coaches and Rajasthan Royals’ stars. The program was conceived with the aim of giving wings to amateur pacers with a stage where they could showcase their raw talent. The first edition was held in 2020 with qualifiers taking place in multiple cities, and the top fast bowlers from across the country competing in a national final. Red Bull Speedster 2024 powered by Rajasthan Royals will take place across nine cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Jaipur, offering participants a shot at training at the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Center and access to expert coaching along with the chance to become a net bowler with the Royals under the purview of their Bowling Coach Shane Bond. Bond, who has been serving as the Bowling Coach of the Royals in the IPL, and former Head Coach of Paarl Royals in South Africa, expressed his delight at the prospect: "Over the years, I've seen firsthand how raw talent, when given the right guidance and exposure, can transform into something special. ALSO READ | WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo misses 96th minute penalty as Al-Nassr crash out of King Cup Red Bull Speedster powered by Rajasthan Royals offers just that – an incredible platform for young bowlers to not only showcase their skills but to learn and evolve. This is an exciting opportunity to work with these emerging talents again in the build-up to the IPL and see their growth, both technically and mentally. I'm eager to help nurture the next wave of Indian fast bowlers who can make a significant impact within the Royals franchise as well." Schedule: • October 26: Spartan & DSP Academy, Jodhpur • October 27: Shivaji Sports Complex, New Delhi • November 7: Rajasthan Royals Academy, Mulhana, Jaipur • November 8: Jaipuriya Cricket Ground, Lucknow • November 10: Changsari High School Play Ground, Guwahati • November 16: TKR College Ground, Hyderabad • November 17: Sumangali Ground, Chennai • November 24: Shivay Cricket Academy, Ahmedabad

IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals partners with Red Bull in national talent search for speedsters

Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour has joined Rajasthan Royals' backroom staff in a similar capacity ahead of IPL 2025, the franchise announced on social media on Friday (Sep 20). Rathour will relink with Rahul Dravid - Royal’s new head coach, months after they guided Team India to their second T20 World Cup title in June. Their contracts expired with the conclusion of the multi-team tournament in the Americas.

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Rathour bhi, Royal bhi! 💗 
 
T20 World Cup winning coach Vikram Rathour joins our support staff and reunites with Rahul Dravid! 🤝🔥 <a href="https://t.co/YbGvoMQyrv">pic.twitter.com/YbGvoMQyrv</a>
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1837013303559630859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Rathour joined Team India as the batting coach five years ago, working with former coaches Ravi Shastri and Dravid, respectively.&nbsp;

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"The opportunity to work again with Rahul, and now with a talented group of young cricketers, is hugely exciting," Rathour said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.&nbsp;

"I look forward to contributing to the team's vision and working toward our goal of developing top-class players for the Royals and for India, which can help in winning championships,” he continued.

Dravid, who enjoyed his stint with Vikram, expressed pleasure at rejoining with his former India backroom staff member.

"Having worked closely with Vikram for many years, I can confidently say that his technical expertise, calm demeanour, and deep understanding of Indian conditions make him a perfect fit for the Royals," Dravid said.

"Together, we've built a strong rapport, guiding India to key successes, and I'm thrilled to reunite with him. His ability to nurture young talent and elevate players' potential will be invaluable as we aim to further strengthen our squad and continue building a world-class team here at Rajasthan Royals,” Rajasthan Royals’ new head coach added.

<h2>Plenty of work to do</h2>

It, however, will be Rathour’s second stint with any franchise in the IPL, having worked with Punjab Kings earlier.&nbsp;

Previously, he worked as the director of cricket at Himachal Pradesh.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) appointed Rathour and former Sri Lanka spin legend Rangana Herath as their batting and bowling coaches, respectively, for the Sri Lanka series.&nbsp;

Though Herath’s contract will run through till the end of the India Tests, NZC appointed Rathour for the ongoing SL series.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Rathour and Dravid will work on finalising the retention list as BCCI nears announcing revised IPL retention rules.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour has joined Rajasthan Royals' backroom staff in a similar capacity ahead of IPL 2025, the franchise announced on social media on Friday (Sep 20).

Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour has joined Rajasthan Royals' backroom staff in a similar capacity ahead of IPL 2025, the franchise announced on social media on Friday (Sep 20). Rathour will relink with Rahul Dravid - Royal’s new head coach, months after they guided Team India to their second T20 World Cup title in June. Their contracts expired with the conclusion of the multi-team tournament in the Americas. Rathour bhi, Royal bhi! 💗 T20 World Cup winning coach Vikram Rathour joins our support staff and reunites with Rahul Dravid! 🤝🔥 pic.twitter.com/YbGvoMQyrv — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) September 20, 2024 × Rathour joined Team India as the batting coach five years ago, working with former coaches Ravi Shastri and Dravid, respectively. ALSO READ: Marnus Labuschagne creates history with UNBELIEVABLE record in 1st ODI vs England "The opportunity to work again with Rahul, and now with a talented group of young cricketers, is hugely exciting," Rathour said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "I look forward to contributing to the team's vision and working toward our goal of developing top-class players for the Royals and for India, which can help in winning championships,” he continued. Dravid, who enjoyed his stint with Vikram, expressed pleasure at rejoining with his former India backroom staff member. "Having worked closely with Vikram for many years, I can confidently say that his technical expertise, calm demeanour, and deep understanding of Indian conditions make him a perfect fit for the Royals," Dravid said. "Together, we've built a strong rapport, guiding India to key successes, and I'm thrilled to reunite with him. His ability to nurture young talent and elevate players' potential will be invaluable as we aim to further strengthen our squad and continue building a world-class team here at Rajasthan Royals,” Rajasthan Royals’ new head coach added. Plenty of work to do It, however, will be Rathour’s second stint with any franchise in the IPL, having worked with Punjab Kings earlier. Previously, he worked as the director of cricket at Himachal Pradesh. Earlier this month, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) appointed Rathour and former Sri Lanka spin legend Rangana Herath as their batting and bowling coaches, respectively, for the Sri Lanka series. Though Herath’s contract will run through till the end of the India Tests, NZC appointed Rathour for the ongoing SL series. Meanwhile, Rathour and Dravid will work on finalising the retention list as BCCI nears announcing revised IPL retention rules. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Vikram Rathour, former India batting coach, reunites with Rahul Dravid at Rajasthan Royals

Newly-appointed Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid reportedly declined ‘blank cheques’ from other franchises to relink with his former IPL team ahead of the next season.&nbsp;

Dravid, Team India's head coach until recently, joined Royals’ backroom staff, with RR announcing the news on social media in collaboration with football transfer news king Fabrizio Romano.

Having switched bases in 2011 from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to Rajasthan Royals, Dravid played, captained and later mentored the franchise before opting out of the IPL circuit to join India-A and India U-19 teams, respectively, in a mentor role.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-will-host-champions-trophy-we-are-in-touch-with-bcci-secretary-says-pcb-chair-mohsin-naqvi-756847">‘Pakistan will host Champions Trophy, we are in touch with BCCI secretary’, says PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi</a>

After tasting success at the junior level, where India won the Under-19 World Cup in 2018 under his tutelage, Dravid replaced Ravi Shastri as the senior team’s head coach on a three-year contract.&nbsp;

Though India played three ICC finals during this time – the 2023 WTC Final, the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup, they lost two but won the one in the shortest format in the Americas.

Given how far India has come in all formats, mainly during Dravid’s tenure, all ten IPL franchises kept a tab on his availability ahead of the next season.&nbsp;

<h2>Dravid returns ‘home’</h2>

Per a report in the Cricbuzz, some teams had even offered the former India great ‘blank cheques’ to accept the head coach role, but Dravid knew his next destination would be the franchise he once called his ‘home’.

"I am pleased to be returning to the franchise I have called 'home' for a number of years in the past," Dravid said in a statement.&nbsp;

"After the World Cup, I feel it's the ideal time for me to take on another challenge, and the Royals is the perfect place to do that … It's an exciting opportunity for us to take this team to the next level given the kind of talent and resources we have at our disposal and I'm looking forward to getting started,” he continued.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the franchise’s CEO, Jake Lush McCrum, also acknowledged Dravid’s loyalty to the franchise while accepting how good his coaching skills have been.

"We are delighted to be bringing Rahul back to the franchise," RR CEO Jake Lush McCrum said.&nbsp;

"His exceptional coaching capabilities are evident with the transformation he's driven in Indian cricket. He also has a deep connection to the franchise, and we've seen that passion come through in all our conversations. Rahul has already got to work with Kumar (Sangakkara) and the rest of the team as we prepare for this exciting new period for the franchise, starting with IPL retention and the auction just around the corner,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Newly-appointed Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid reportedly declined ‘blank cheques’ from other franchises to relink with his former IPL team ahead of the next season.

Newly-appointed Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid reportedly declined ‘blank cheques’ from other franchises to relink with his former IPL team ahead of the next season. Dravid, Team India's head coach until recently, joined Royals’ backroom staff, with RR announcing the news on social media in collaboration with football transfer news king Fabrizio Romano. Having switched bases in 2011 from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to Rajasthan Royals, Dravid played, captained and later mentored the franchise before opting out of the IPL circuit to join India-A and India U-19 teams, respectively, in a mentor role. ALSO READ: ‘Pakistan will host Champions Trophy, we are in touch with BCCI secretary’, says PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi After tasting success at the junior level, where India won the Under-19 World Cup in 2018 under his tutelage, Dravid replaced Ravi Shastri as the senior team’s head coach on a three-year contract. Though India played three ICC finals during this time – the 2023 WTC Final, the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup, they lost two but won the one in the shortest format in the Americas. Given how far India has come in all formats, mainly during Dravid’s tenure, all ten IPL franchises kept a tab on his availability ahead of the next season. Dravid returns ‘home’ Per a report in the Cricbuzz, some teams had even offered the former India great ‘blank cheques’ to accept the head coach role, but Dravid knew his next destination would be the franchise he once called his ‘home’. "I am pleased to be returning to the franchise I have called 'home' for a number of years in the past," Dravid said in a statement. "After the World Cup, I feel it's the ideal time for me to take on another challenge, and the Royals is the perfect place to do that … It's an exciting opportunity for us to take this team to the next level given the kind of talent and resources we have at our disposal and I'm looking forward to getting started,” he continued. Meanwhile, the franchise’s CEO, Jake Lush McCrum, also acknowledged Dravid’s loyalty to the franchise while accepting how good his coaching skills have been. "We are delighted to be bringing Rahul back to the franchise," RR CEO Jake Lush McCrum said. "His exceptional coaching capabilities are evident with the transformation he's driven in Indian cricket. He also has a deep connection to the franchise, and we've seen that passion come through in all our conversations. Rahul has already got to work with Kumar (Sangakkara) and the rest of the team as we prepare for this exciting new period for the franchise, starting with IPL retention and the auction just around the corner,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL: Rahul Dravid declined ‘blank cheques’ from other franchises to relink with Rajasthan Royals  – Reports

Former India great Rahul Dravid was&nbsp;officially unveiled as Rajasthan Royals' new head coach on Friday (September 6), the IPL franchise, in collaboration with football transfer news king Fabrizio Romano, announced on social media.

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More than two months after leading Team India to its second T20 World Cup title in the Americas, Dravid returned to his former franchise, for whom he played, captained and mentored before.

After his first stint with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (as a player) from 2008 to 2010, Dravid played for Rajasthan Royals for the next three years (from 2011 to 2013) and later, in 2014, served as their mentor. He then walked out of the IPL circuit, taking over the head coach role with India-A and India U-19 teams.&nbsp;

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Under his tutelage in 2018, the India U-19 men's team won the World Cup. In 2021, three years later, he became the Team India head coach, replacing Ravi Shastri.&nbsp;

Although India played three ICC finals under him – the 2023 WTC Final, 2023 ODI World Cup Final and 2024 T20 World Cup Final, they lost two and won the last one.&nbsp;

India also won the 2023 Asia Cup under his guidance.

Meanwhile, at the RR from next season onwards, Dravid will work closely with RR’s Director of Cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, who coached the franchise for four years until recently.

"Rahul is one of the greatest players to have played the game, but what he has achieved over the past decade as a coach is extraordinary. The characteristics that he possesses as a coach to nurture talent but also enable them to consistently perform at the highest level will allow the Rajasthan Royals to further challenge for the title," Sangakkara said at Dravid’s appointment as RR’s new head coach.

"I've already had some meaningful conversations with him about his vision for this team, and he is looking forward to delivering the results for the Royals,” he continued.

<h2>‘I am pleased to be returning home’</h2>

Dravid spoke his heart out upon his return to the franchise he once called ‘home’.&nbsp;

"I am pleased to be returning to the franchise I have called 'home' for a number of years in the past," Dravid said.&nbsp;

"After the World Cup, I feel it's the ideal time for me to take on another challenge, and the Royals is the perfect place to do that.

"A lot of hard work and deliberations from Manoj, Jake, Kumar and the team has gone into the progression that the franchise has made over the past few years. It's an exciting opportunity for us to take this team to the next level given the kind of talent and resources we have at our disposal, and I'm looking forward to getting started,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Dravid, who has already resumed work at the franchise, will be tasked to chalk out the retention plan once the BCCI publicly announces revised rules.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Former India great Rahul Dravid was officially unveiled as Rajasthan Royals' new head coach on Friday (September 6), the IPL franchise, in collaboration with football transfer news king Fabrizio Romano, announced on social media.

Former India great Rahul Dravid was officially unveiled as Rajasthan Royals' new head coach on Friday (September 6), the IPL franchise, in collaboration with football transfer news king Fabrizio Romano, announced on social media. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) × More than two months after leading Team India to its second T20 World Cup title in the Americas, Dravid returned to his former franchise, for whom he played, captained and mentored before. After his first stint with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (as a player) from 2008 to 2010, Dravid played for Rajasthan Royals for the next three years (from 2011 to 2013) and later, in 2014, served as their mentor. He then walked out of the IPL circuit, taking over the head coach role with India-A and India U-19 teams. ALSO READ: 'Unfortunately, it's just English culture towards sport' - Stokes shields underfire Pope from criticism Under his tutelage in 2018, the India U-19 men's team won the World Cup. In 2021, three years later, he became the Team India head coach, replacing Ravi Shastri. Although India played three ICC finals under him – the 2023 WTC Final, 2023 ODI World Cup Final and 2024 T20 World Cup Final, they lost two and won the last one. India also won the 2023 Asia Cup under his guidance. Meanwhile, at the RR from next season onwards, Dravid will work closely with RR’s Director of Cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, who coached the franchise for four years until recently. "Rahul is one of the greatest players to have played the game, but what he has achieved over the past decade as a coach is extraordinary. The characteristics that he possesses as a coach to nurture talent but also enable them to consistently perform at the highest level will allow the Rajasthan Royals to further challenge for the title," Sangakkara said at Dravid’s appointment as RR’s new head coach. "I've already had some meaningful conversations with him about his vision for this team, and he is looking forward to delivering the results for the Royals,” he continued. ‘I am pleased to be returning home’ Dravid spoke his heart out upon his return to the franchise he once called ‘home’. "I am pleased to be returning to the franchise I have called 'home' for a number of years in the past," Dravid said. "After the World Cup, I feel it's the ideal time for me to take on another challenge, and the Royals is the perfect place to do that. "A lot of hard work and deliberations from Manoj, Jake, Kumar and the team has gone into the progression that the franchise has made over the past few years. It's an exciting opportunity for us to take this team to the next level given the kind of talent and resources we have at our disposal, and I'm looking forward to getting started,” he concluded. Meanwhile, Dravid, who has already resumed work at the franchise, will be tasked to chalk out the retention plan once the BCCI publicly announces revised rules. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals officially announce Rahul Dravid as new head coach - HERE WE GO!

Former India coach Rahul Dravid is all set to be back with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals as head coach. The developments were reported by cricket news website ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday (Sep 4).

Dravid has signed a deal with the IPL franchise, has had talks regarding the player retention ahead of December's mega auction as well, reported ESPNCricinfo further.

Kumar Sangakkara, who serves as the director of cricket at the Royals after being appointed in 2021, will continue in his role and will look after Royals' sister franchises Paarl Royals in SA20 and Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League (IPL).

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This won't be the first time Dravid would be associated with the franchise. He has already captained and coached them before.

Dravid led the Royals in two seasons, i.e., IPL 2012 and 2013 before serving as team director and mentor in 2014 and 2015 season. He moved to Delhi Capitals (erstwhile Daredevils) in 2016 before becoming National Cricket Academy (NCA) head in 2019.

RR captain Sanju Samson has also come up through cricketing structure under Dravid who was U-19 India coach for some time as well.

In 2021, Dravid was named senior India men's team coach and ended the 11-year ICC trophy draught with 2024 T20 World Cup victory.

Under Dravid, India reached the final of ODI World Cup 2023 at home as well as World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 Final but lost both to Australia.

Royals are still searching for their second IPL trophy after winning the inaugural edition in 2008. In the last three seasons, they have shown glimpses of achieving the same but haven't been able to go all the way through.

They were the runners-up in 2022 season before failing to make it to the playoffs in 2023. In 2024, they did enter the playoffs but lost in the Qualifier 2.

Former India coach Rahul Dravid is all set to be back with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals as head coach. The developments were reported by cricket news website ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday (Sep 4).

Former India coach Rahul Dravid is all set to be back with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals as head coach. The developments were reported by cricket news website ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday (Sep 4). Dravid has signed a deal with the IPL franchise, has had talks regarding the player retention ahead of December's mega auction as well, reported ESPNCricinfo further. Kumar Sangakkara, who serves as the director of cricket at the Royals after being appointed in 2021, will continue in his role and will look after Royals' sister franchises Paarl Royals in SA20 and Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League (IPL). Also Read: 'Team started disintegrating from...,' Ex-Pak cricketer Rashid Latif blames PCB chairmen for Bangladesh loss This won't be the first time Dravid would be associated with the franchise. He has already captained and coached them before. Dravid led the Royals in two seasons, i.e., IPL 2012 and 2013 before serving as team director and mentor in 2014 and 2015 season. He moved to Delhi Capitals (erstwhile Daredevils) in 2016 before becoming National Cricket Academy (NCA) head in 2019. RR captain Sanju Samson has also come up through cricketing structure under Dravid who was U-19 India coach for some time as well. In 2021, Dravid was named senior India men's team coach and ended the 11-year ICC trophy draught with 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Under Dravid, India reached the final of ODI World Cup 2023 at home as well as World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 Final but lost both to Australia. Royals are still searching for their second IPL trophy after winning the inaugural edition in 2008. In the last three seasons, they have shown glimpses of achieving the same but haven't been able to go all the way through. They were the runners-up in 2022 season before failing to make it to the playoffs in 2023. In 2024, they did enter the playoffs but lost in the Qualifier 2.

IPL 2025: Rahul Dravid set to be back at Rajasthan Royals as head coach

Former India great and Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach Ashish Nehra could be on his way out ahead of the mega IPL auction later this year, per the latest report. With speculation&nbsp;of several franchises contemplating bringing wholesome changes to their setup, the GT leadership group, with its administrative head based in the UK and some officials in Mumbai and Singapore, has decided to revamp their coaching staff.

Elsewhere, Kumar Sangakkara might also be vacating the Rajasthan Royals’ head coach position, with the British&nbsp;media reports&nbsp;claiming that ECB has zeroed in on him as their new white-ball head coach. Considering Sangakkara's close relationship with the ECB’s managing director, Robert Key, he could pick up an international assignment, with the official announcement coming any time.

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“Well, I know my name has been mentioned for some reason, but there has not been any approach as such. I think the England white-ball job is an exciting prospect for anyone, but there are so many good candidates out there.&nbsp;

“I am very happy at the moment. The Rajasthan Royals experience has been very fulfilling and it has been a job I have really enjoyed over the last four years,” Sangakkara said, as quoted by the UK media.

Besides, the BCCI is unlikely to accept the idea of not hosting the mega auction, as suggested by some franchises during the top-tier meet earlier. Per a report in the Cricbuzz, the BCCI, at best, can allow six retentions ahead of the mega auction, including reactivating the Right to Match (RTM) card. During the previous mega auction in 2022, four retentions and no RTM were part of it.

<h2>Nehra could leave GT</h2>

GT tasted success under the leadership of Nehra, Gary Kirsten – mentor and batting coach, and Vikram Solanki - the director of cricket, with the team winning the IPL in its maiden edition (in 2022) and finishing runners up in 2023.&nbsp;However, several factors are driving these changes, including the departure of Kirsten, who joined the Pakistan Cricket Team as their new head coach.

Although the report suggests Solanki could weather this storm, Nehra is certain to depart ahead of the mega auction, the details of which are unknown to all.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Nehra is also said to have upset a few individuals in the camp, and given how he kept things to himself in the previous edition compared to the ones before where his presence was felt inside the dressing room, is not coincidental.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former India great and Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach Ashish Nehra could be on his way out ahead of the mega IPL auction later this year, per the latest report. With speculation of several franchises contemplating bringing wholesome changes to their setup, the GT leadership group, with its administrative head based in the UK and some officials in Mumbai and Singapore, has decided to revamp their coaching staff.

Former India great and Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach Ashish Nehra could be on his way out ahead of the mega IPL auction later this year, per the latest report. With speculation of several franchises contemplating bringing wholesome changes to their setup, the GT leadership group, with its administrative head based in the UK and some officials in Mumbai and Singapore, has decided to revamp their coaching staff. Elsewhere, Kumar Sangakkara might also be vacating the Rajasthan Royals’ head coach position, with the British media reports claiming that ECB has zeroed in on him as their new white-ball head coach. Considering Sangakkara's close relationship with the ECB’s managing director, Robert Key, he could pick up an international assignment, with the official announcement coming any time. ALSO READ: Boost for Team India as Mohammed Shami expected to be fit for home Bangladesh Tests “Well, I know my name has been mentioned for some reason, but there has not been any approach as such. I think the England white-ball job is an exciting prospect for anyone, but there are so many good candidates out there. “I am very happy at the moment. The Rajasthan Royals experience has been very fulfilling and it has been a job I have really enjoyed over the last four years,” Sangakkara said, as quoted by the UK media. Besides, the BCCI is unlikely to accept the idea of not hosting the mega auction, as suggested by some franchises during the top-tier meet earlier. Per a report in the Cricbuzz, the BCCI, at best, can allow six retentions ahead of the mega auction, including reactivating the Right to Match (RTM) card. During the previous mega auction in 2022, four retentions and no RTM were part of it. Nehra could leave GT GT tasted success under the leadership of Nehra, Gary Kirsten – mentor and batting coach, and Vikram Solanki - the director of cricket, with the team winning the IPL in its maiden edition (in 2022) and finishing runners up in 2023. However, several factors are driving these changes, including the departure of Kirsten, who joined the Pakistan Cricket Team as their new head coach. Although the report suggests Solanki could weather this storm, Nehra is certain to depart ahead of the mega auction, the details of which are unknown to all. Meanwhile, Nehra is also said to have upset a few individuals in the camp, and given how he kept things to himself in the previous edition compared to the ones before where his presence was felt inside the dressing room, is not coincidental. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL: Ashish Nehra’s future at Gujarat Titans in limbo; Dravid to replace Sangakkara as RR head coach - Reports

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid is all set to make a comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Rajasthan Royals (RR). Dravid decided not to extend his contract with the BCCI as head coach after taking the team to 2024 T20 World Cup glory.

"Talks are going on between RR and Dravid, an announcement in his regard is round the corner," reported&nbsp;the Times of India (TOI) citing a source.

Dravid has previously been a player-mentor with the Royals as well.

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He joined the Royals in 2011 and played three seasons with them before taking on the mentor role for the next two years. Dravid then went on to join the BCCI as U-19 and India A cricket team coach.

Under Dravid, the India U-19 team reached&nbsp;the 2016 and 2018 World Cup finals and won the latter. The former India skipper then joined the National Cricket Academy (NCA) as chairman before becoming the head coach of the senior team in 2021.

With Dravid as head coach, India's senior team reached the semifinal of the 2022 T20 World Cup but lost to England by 10 wickets. Under Dravid, India also lost the World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the 2021-23 cycle and the ODI World Cup 2023 final at home.

He eventually went out with a trophy in his hand after India won the recently concluded T20 World Cup by beating South Africa in the final on June 29

Dravid was reportedly going to join IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) earlier. He would have replaced Gautam Gambhir as KKR mentor after the former India opener replaced Dravid as the new India head coach.

Gambhir's first assignment as the coach will be the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka which starts with three T20I games on July 27, 28 and 30 and ends with three ODIs on August 2, 4 and 7.

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid is all set to make a comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Rajasthan Royals (RR). Dravid decided not to extend his contract with the BCCI as head coach after taking the team to 2024 T20 World Cup glory.

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid is all set to make a comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Rajasthan Royals (RR). Dravid decided not to extend his contract with the BCCI as head coach after taking the team to 2024 T20 World Cup glory. "Talks are going on between RR and Dravid, an announcement in his regard is round the corner," reported the Times of India (TOI) citing a source. Dravid has previously been a player-mentor with the Royals as well. Also Read: ‘I would actually say...’: Robin Uthappa shares his take on Hardik Pandya being snubbed from T20I captaincy He joined the Royals in 2011 and played three seasons with them before taking on the mentor role for the next two years. Dravid then went on to join the BCCI as U-19 and India A cricket team coach. Under Dravid, the India U-19 team reached the 2016 and 2018 World Cup finals and won the latter. The former India skipper then joined the National Cricket Academy (NCA) as chairman before becoming the head coach of the senior team in 2021. With Dravid as head coach, India's senior team reached the semifinal of the 2022 T20 World Cup but lost to England by 10 wickets. Under Dravid, India also lost the World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the 2021-23 cycle and the ODI World Cup 2023 final at home. He eventually went out with a trophy in his hand after India won the recently concluded T20 World Cup by beating South Africa in the final on June 29 Dravid was reportedly going to join IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) earlier. He would have replaced Gautam Gambhir as KKR mentor after the former India opener replaced Dravid as the new India head coach. Gambhir's first assignment as the coach will be the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka which starts with three T20I games on July 27, 28 and 30 and ends with three ODIs on August 2, 4 and 7.

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid to be back in IPL with his old franchise? Read Inside

Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag is confident of playing for India in the future. The batter, however, isn't sure when but it doesn't bother him. Parag's comments came after a breakout IPL 2024 season where he scored 573 runs at an average of 52 and a strike rate of almost 150.

Parag was subject to rumours for a spot in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad but didn't make the cut.

"At some point, you'll have to take me, right? So that is my belief, I'm going to play for India," Parag was quoted as saying by news agency &nbsp;PTI. "I don't really care when. [Even] when I was not scoring runs - I said this in an [earlier] interview as well that I am going to play for India.

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"That is me believing in myself. That is not me being arrogant. That is what my plan was with my dad [former Railways and Assam player Parag Das], when I started playing cricket when I was like 10-years old. We were going to play for India regardless of anything," he added.

India are scheduled to tour Zimbabwe after the T20 World Cup which ends in June last week and Parag might make the cut. The batter, however, isn't perturbed with his selection.

"Whether it's the next tour, whether it's a tour in six months, whether it's a tour in one year... I don't really put my thought behind when I should play," Parag said. "That is the selector's job, that is other people's job," Parag said.

Parag was one of the success stories of the IPL 2024 but his team failed to make it to the finals after loss against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in second qualifier.

Parag spoke about the loss as well and said: "The night after the game, it didn't really sink in. But then the day after the match and before the final, it was tough."

Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag is confident of playing for India in the future. The batter, however, isn't sure when but it doesn't bother him. Parag's comments came after a breakout IPL 2024 season where he scored 573 runs at an average of 52 and a strike rate of almost 150.

Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag is confident of playing for India in the future. The batter, however, isn't sure when but it doesn't bother him. Parag's comments came after a breakout IPL 2024 season where he scored 573 runs at an average of 52 and a strike rate of almost 150. Parag was subject to rumours for a spot in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad but didn't make the cut. "At some point, you'll have to take me, right? So that is my belief, I'm going to play for India," Parag was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. "I don't really care when. [Even] when I was not scoring runs - I said this in an [earlier] interview as well that I am going to play for India. Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Tim Paine wants Pat Cummins or Josh Hazlewood out for THIS bowler in Australia playing XI "That is me believing in myself. That is not me being arrogant. That is what my plan was with my dad [former Railways and Assam player Parag Das], when I started playing cricket when I was like 10-years old. We were going to play for India regardless of anything," he added. India are scheduled to tour Zimbabwe after the T20 World Cup which ends in June last week and Parag might make the cut. The batter, however, isn't perturbed with his selection. "Whether it's the next tour, whether it's a tour in six months, whether it's a tour in one year... I don't really put my thought behind when I should play," Parag said. "That is the selector's job, that is other people's job," Parag said. Parag was one of the success stories of the IPL 2024 but his team failed to make it to the finals after loss against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in second qualifier. Parag spoke about the loss as well and said: "The night after the game, it didn't really sink in. But then the day after the match and before the final, it was tough."

'I don't care...,' Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag opens up on India selection

Rajasthan Royals batter Shimron Hetmyer has been penalized by the Indian Premier League (IPL) for his conduct in the second qualifier match against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday (May 24). Hetmyer had smashed the stumps in frustration after getting out as the sixth wicket in the chase of 176.

Hetmyer was done by SRH's part-time spinner Abhishek Sharma in the 14th over, leaving Royals well short of target at 92/6.

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“Shimron Hetmyer of the Rajasthan Royals has been fined 10 per cent of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during the Qualifier 2 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on May 24,” read the statement from the league on the incident.

“Hetmyer committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding,” it further read.

Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct deals with the "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing,&nbsp;ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match.”

As for the match, RR's campaign came to an end as they lost the match by 36 runs. Royals were not in the command of their chase at any point as they kept losing the wickets at regular interval.

Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson also acknowledged his side's shortcoming against SRH in the middle overs and said after the game: "I think we were found short of options in the middle overs against spin, and I think that's where we lost the game."

RR had finished third on the points table with eight wins, five losses and one no result in 14 games.

Rajasthan Royals batter Shimron Hetmyer has been penalized by the Indian Premier League (IPL) for his conduct in the second qualifier match against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday (May 24).

Rajasthan Royals batter Shimron Hetmyer has been penalized by the Indian Premier League (IPL) for his conduct in the second qualifier match against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday (May 24). Hetmyer had smashed the stumps in frustration after getting out as the sixth wicket in the chase of 176. Hetmyer was done by SRH's part-time spinner Abhishek Sharma in the 14th over, leaving Royals well short of target at 92/6. Also Read: T20 World Cup: Hardik Pandya to fly from London as Team India's first batch to depart for New York on May 25 “Shimron Hetmyer of the Rajasthan Royals has been fined 10 per cent of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during the Qualifier 2 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on May 24,” read the statement from the league on the incident. “Hetmyer committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding,” it further read. Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct deals with the "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match.” As for the match, RR's campaign came to an end as they lost the match by 36 runs. Royals were not in the command of their chase at any point as they kept losing the wickets at regular interval. Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson also acknowledged his side's shortcoming against SRH in the middle overs and said after the game: "I think we were found short of options in the middle overs against spin, and I think that's where we lost the game." RR had finished third on the points table with eight wins, five losses and one no result in 14 games.

IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals' Shimron Hetmyer fined by BCCI after match vs SRH | Read Why

Rajasthan Royals took a giant step towards the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) final on Wednesday (May 22) after they beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium to book a place in the Qualifier 2. Ravichandran Ashwin, who played a pivotal role in helping RR reach the next&nbsp;stage&nbsp;highlighted the importance of bowlers and why they need to be dynamic. He also emphasised that the Impact Player rule&nbsp;won’t&nbsp;have stopped teams from scoring big totals in the IPL 2024.&nbsp;

<h2>Ashwin has his say on the player and bowler role</h2>

"Even if the impact player rule&nbsp;wasn't&nbsp;there, scores would be this high,"&nbsp;Ashwin said on JioCinema Match Centre Live after their four-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL&nbsp;Eliminator,&nbsp;on Wednesday.

“In the future, all bowlers will need to be hitters because we know that no matter how well we bowl, we&nbsp;also need to&nbsp;be able to bat. The game&nbsp;is headed&nbsp;in that direction,"&nbsp;he said.

The Indian spinner was awarded the Player of the Match for the Eliminator clash against RCB as he helped his side take a giant step toward the final.&nbsp;A win for RR against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH)&nbsp;on Friday&nbsp;will see&nbsp;Ashwin’s&nbsp;side reach their third final in IPL.&nbsp;Ashwin had an excellent return of 19/2 in his four overs and has often added valuable runs with the bat whenever his side has needed him.&nbsp;

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According to him, bowlers need to be more dynamic and&nbsp;have to&nbsp;offer their services to the side with both bat and ball. The Impact Player has granted IPL sides allowance to push an extra batter or a bowler in the side, highlighting the importance of all-rounders. According to stats, all-rounders are less substituted for an Impact Player. Ashwin also&nbsp;reckons,&nbsp;that&nbsp;had the Impact Player rule not&nbsp;existed&nbsp;teams would have still been able to score more runs and often reach 200.&nbsp;

Both&nbsp;Ashwin and RR will now have their eyes on the IPL final as they try to down SRH in the crucial contest.&nbsp;The winner of the Qualifier 2 will face&nbsp;Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final of the IPL on Sunday at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.&nbsp;

Rajasthan Royals took a giant step towards the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) final on Wednesday (May 22) after they beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium to book a place in the Qualifier 2.

Rajasthan Royals took a giant step towards the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) final on Wednesday (May 22) after they beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium to book a place in the Qualifier 2. Ravichandran Ashwin, who played a pivotal role in helping RR reach the next stage highlighted the importance of bowlers and why they need to be dynamic. He also emphasised that the Impact Player rule won’t have stopped teams from scoring big totals in the IPL 2024. Ashwin has his say on the player and bowler role "Even if the impact player rule wasn't there, scores would be this high," Ashwin said on JioCinema Match Centre Live after their four-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL Eliminator, on Wednesday. “In the future, all bowlers will need to be hitters because we know that no matter how well we bowl, we also need to be able to bat. The game is headed in that direction," he said. The Indian spinner was awarded the Player of the Match for the Eliminator clash against RCB as he helped his side take a giant step toward the final. A win for RR against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday will see Ashwin’s side reach their third final in IPL. Ashwin had an excellent return of 19/2 in his four overs and has often added valuable runs with the bat whenever his side has needed him. ALSO READ | Bayern Munich close to signing relegated Burnley boss Vincent Kompany as next manager According to him, bowlers need to be more dynamic and have to offer their services to the side with both bat and ball. The Impact Player has granted IPL sides allowance to push an extra batter or a bowler in the side, highlighting the importance of all-rounders. According to stats, all-rounders are less substituted for an Impact Player. Ashwin also reckons, that had the Impact Player rule not existed teams would have still been able to score more runs and often reach 200. Both Ashwin and RR will now have their eyes on the IPL final as they try to down SRH in the crucial contest. The winner of the Qualifier 2 will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final of the IPL on Sunday at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

IPL 2024: Ravichandran Ashwin asks bowlers to be dynamic, says 'all bowlers will need to be...'

The reports of threat to Virat Kohli&nbsp;and RCB's cancelled practice ahead on the eliminator against Rajasthan Royals on May 22 have been called out the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA).&nbsp;

"There was no terror threat. We had made provision for both the Rajasthan Royals and RCB to practice at the Gujarat College ground. RCB were supposed to practice from 2 to 5pm, before they changed it to 3-6pm, as the light is good till 6.30pm in the summer in Ahmedabad. However, the Rajasthan Royals practiced from 3.30 to 6.30pm at the Gujarat College ground with their full squad," Anil Patel, secretary of GCA said.

<meta name="uuid" content="uuidtfYc9CqRUw1t" />Earlier, it was reported that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had to cancel their solitary practice session before the IPL&nbsp;Eliminator match against Rajasthan Royals due to security reasons, a report has claimed. Concerns around star player Virat Kohli's security prompted the franchise to abandon its practice session as well as the pre-match press conference.&nbsp;

According to a report in&nbsp;Anandabazaar Patrika, RCB abandoned the session after Gujarat Police arrested four people from Ahmedabad over suspicion of terrorist activity.&nbsp;

RCB were supposed to practice at the&nbsp;Gujarat&nbsp;College Ground ahead of the match scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium.&nbsp;

After the police informed both the franchises about the arrests, the Bengaluru-based team acted on the call and cancelled all commitments of the day while Rajasthan went ahead with its schedule.&nbsp;

"Virat Kohli learned about the arrests after arriving in Ahmedabad. He is a national treasure, and his security is our utmost priority," Vijay Singha Jwala, a police officer was quoted as saying by the publication.&nbsp;

"RCB did not want to take a risk. They informed us that there would be no practice session. Rajasthan Royals were also informed about the development, but they had no problems going ahead with their practice."

Subsequently, the security was beefed up outside RCB's team hotel with IPL-accredited membersalso&nbsp; not being allowed to enter the hotel premises.&nbsp;

As for the Royals, a 'green corridor' was prepared and three police convoys escorted the team bus. While skipper Sanju Samson arrived late, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag and Yuzvendra Chahal skipped the practice session and remained at the hotel.&nbsp;

As the players went through their drills, heavy security patrolled the ground.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/will-you-come-back-ask-fans-as-fugitive-vijay-mallya-talks-about-virat-kohli-ahead-of-rcbs-knockout-match-724220" target="_blank">Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;'Will you come back?' ask fans as fugitive Vijay Mallya talks about Virat Kohli ahead of RCB's knockout match</a>

<h2>RCB face&nbsp;RR&nbsp;challenge.&nbsp;</h2>

RCB managed to qualify for the playoffs after a remarkable turnaround in form which saw them win six matches on the bounce. In the virtual knockout that was the final league match,&nbsp;RCB staved off the Chennai Super Kings challenge to set up the Eliminator match against Rajasthan Royals.&nbsp;

The winner of the Eliminator will square up against SunRisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 in Chennai, with the winner qualifying for the final to face Kolkata Knight Riders.&nbsp;

Squads: 

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen, Shubham Dubey, Keshav Maharaj, Donovan Ferreira, Navdeep Saini, Shimron Hetmyer, Tanush Kotian, Abid Mushtaq, Kunal Singh Rathore

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik(w), Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Yash Dayal, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Siraj, Swapnil Singh, Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudessai, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Himanshu Sharma, Mayank Dagar, Alzarri Joseph, Manoj Bhandage, Akash Deep, Saurav Chauhan, Rajan Kumar, Tom Curran

(With inputs from agencies)

The reports of threat to Virat Kohli and RCB's cancelled practice ahead on the eliminator against Rajasthan Royals on May 22 have been called out the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA).

The reports of threat to Virat Kohli and RCB's cancelled practice ahead on the eliminator against Rajasthan Royals on May 22 have been called out the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA). "There was no terror threat. We had made provision for both the Rajasthan Royals and RCB to practice at the Gujarat College ground. RCB were supposed to practice from 2 to 5pm, before they changed it to 3-6pm, as the light is good till 6.30pm in the summer in Ahmedabad. However, the Rajasthan Royals practiced from 3.30 to 6.30pm at the Gujarat College ground with their full squad," Anil Patel, secretary of GCA said. Earlier, it was reported that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had to cancel their solitary practice session before the IPL Eliminator match against Rajasthan Royals due to security reasons, a report has claimed. Concerns around star player Virat Kohli's security prompted the franchise to abandon its practice session as well as the pre-match press conference. According to a report in Anandabazaar Patrika, RCB abandoned the session after Gujarat Police arrested four people from Ahmedabad over suspicion of terrorist activity. RCB were supposed to practice at the Gujarat College Ground ahead of the match scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium. After the police informed both the franchises about the arrests, the Bengaluru-based team acted on the call and cancelled all commitments of the day while Rajasthan went ahead with its schedule. "Virat Kohli learned about the arrests after arriving in Ahmedabad. He is a national treasure, and his security is our utmost priority," Vijay Singha Jwala, a police officer was quoted as saying by the publication. "RCB did not want to take a risk. They informed us that there would be no practice session. Rajasthan Royals were also informed about the development, but they had no problems going ahead with their practice." Subsequently, the security was beefed up outside RCB's team hotel with IPL-accredited membersalso not being allowed to enter the hotel premises. As for the Royals, a 'green corridor' was prepared and three police convoys escorted the team bus. While skipper Sanju Samson arrived late, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag and Yuzvendra Chahal skipped the practice session and remained at the hotel. As the players went through their drills, heavy security patrolled the ground. Also read | 'Will you come back?' ask fans as fugitive Vijay Mallya talks about Virat Kohli ahead of RCB's knockout match RCB face RR challenge. RCB managed to qualify for the playoffs after a remarkable turnaround in form which saw them win six matches on the bounce. In the virtual knockout that was the final league match, RCB staved off the Chennai Super Kings challenge to set up the Eliminator match against Rajasthan Royals. The winner of the Eliminator will square up against SunRisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 in Chennai, with the winner qualifying for the final to face Kolkata Knight Riders. Squads: Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen, Shubham Dubey, Keshav Maharaj, Donovan Ferreira, Navdeep Saini, Shimron Hetmyer, Tanush Kotian, Abid Mushtaq, Kunal Singh Rathore Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik(w), Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Yash Dayal, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Siraj, Swapnil Singh, Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudessai, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Himanshu Sharma, Mayank Dagar, Alzarri Joseph, Manoj Bhandage, Akash Deep, Saurav Chauhan, Rajan Kumar, Tom Curran (With inputs from agencies)

Gujarat Cricket Association reveals actual REASON behind RCB's cancelled practice and Virat Kohli's threat

After Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) demolished Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024 on Tuesday (May 21), the two-time winners became the first side to enter this year's final. On Wednesday (May 22), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will lock horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator.&nbsp;Ahead of the do-or-die clash, former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar gave his bold verdict that RCB will run past RR.

RR, under Sanju Samson, had a fabulous start to the season, winning eight of their first nine games. However, they lost four on the trot and their last league fixture got abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. On the other hand, RCB were at the bottom at the halfway stage but won six straight games to enter the playoffs. Thus, Gavaskar has backed in-form RCB to go past RR at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad; the same venue which hosted Qualifier 1.

<h2>'I will be surprised if RCB&nbsp;does not walk all over RR'</h2>

On Star Sports, Gavaskar said, "Rajasthan they have lost four-five matches. They have not played their last game as well. They have been out of practice. Unless they do something special that KKR did today, despite not playing for 11 days, it could well turn out be another one-sided game tomorrow. My fear is it will be another one sided game tomorrow, where the RCB will walk all over RR. I will be surprised if that does not happen."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/my-main-priority-jos-buttler-issues-clarification-after-leaving-ipl-midway-for-england-724133">'My main priority...': Jos Buttler issues clarification after leaving IPL midway for England</a>

He further lauded Faf du Plessis-led RCB for an inspiring turnaround. The Bengaluru unit rode on Faf, Kohli and Rajat Patidar's consistency at the top, played fearless cricket and improved their bowling (courtesy of a more settled line-up) to enter the playoffs.

Thus, Gavaskar added, "What RCB has done is nothing short of phenomenal. Firstly, to believe that they can bounce back. That requires something special. You have to say that their leading players Faf du Plessis, Virat KOhli, their senior players, they are the guys who are most encouraging the other players. Other team members can quickly get into a situation like , 'Oh we have lost everything'. Both of them have played extraordinary cricket."

The pressure will be on one-time winners RR as they should not have reached a stage where they are playing the Eliminator, after topping the league stage for majority of period. Thus, the Sanju Samson-led side have their task cut-out to stop a rampant and fearless RCB in Ahmedabad on Wednesday evening.

The winner will play SRH in Qualifier 2, in Chennai on Friday (May 24). Qualifier 2 winner will meet KKR in the IPL 2024 final on Sunday (May 26) in Chennai.

After Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) demolished Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024 on Tuesday (May 21), the two-time winners became the first side to enter this year's final.

After Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) demolished Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024 on Tuesday (May 21), the two-time winners became the first side to enter this year's final. On Wednesday (May 22), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will lock horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator. Ahead of the do-or-die clash, former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar gave his bold verdict that RCB will run past RR. RR, under Sanju Samson, had a fabulous start to the season, winning eight of their first nine games. However, they lost four on the trot and their last league fixture got abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. On the other hand, RCB were at the bottom at the halfway stage but won six straight games to enter the playoffs. Thus, Gavaskar has backed in-form RCB to go past RR at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad; the same venue which hosted Qualifier 1. 'I will be surprised if RCB does not walk all over RR' On Star Sports, Gavaskar said, "Rajasthan they have lost four-five matches. They have not played their last game as well. They have been out of practice. Unless they do something special that KKR did today, despite not playing for 11 days, it could well turn out be another one-sided game tomorrow. My fear is it will be another one sided game tomorrow, where the RCB will walk all over RR. I will be surprised if that does not happen." Also read: 'My main priority...': Jos Buttler issues clarification after leaving IPL midway for England He further lauded Faf du Plessis-led RCB for an inspiring turnaround. The Bengaluru unit rode on Faf, Kohli and Rajat Patidar's consistency at the top, played fearless cricket and improved their bowling (courtesy of a more settled line-up) to enter the playoffs. Thus, Gavaskar added, "What RCB has done is nothing short of phenomenal. Firstly, to believe that they can bounce back. That requires something special. You have to say that their leading players Faf du Plessis, Virat KOhli, their senior players, they are the guys who are most encouraging the other players. Other team members can quickly get into a situation like , 'Oh we have lost everything'. Both of them have played extraordinary cricket." The pressure will be on one-time winners RR as they should not have reached a stage where they are playing the Eliminator, after topping the league stage for majority of period. Thus, the Sanju Samson-led side have their task cut-out to stop a rampant and fearless RCB in Ahmedabad on Wednesday evening. The winner will play SRH in Qualifier 2, in Chennai on Friday (May 24). Qualifier 2 winner will meet KKR in the IPL 2024 final on Sunday (May 26) in Chennai.

IPL 2024: 'RCB will walk all over RR' - Sunil Gavaskar's BOLD claim ahead of Eliminator

Rajasthan Royals (RR) slumped to their fourth successive defeat in IPL 2024 when Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat them by five wickets, in pursuit of 145, in match 65 in Guwahati on Wednesday (May 15). After a terrific start, having 8 wins in 9 games, RR have now lost four games on the trot despite confirming their place in the playoffs. With another defeat, their chances of finishing the league stage at the top-two has also gone down considerably.&nbsp;

Following the five-wicket drubbing at the hands of already-eliminated Punjab, RR captain Sanju Samson didn't mince&nbsp;words as he called for the senior players to stand up. Speaking after the match, Samson stated, "To be very honest, we have to sit back and accept that we are going through some failures. You have to find out what's not working well as a team. When you are getting to the business end, we need someone to raise their finger up and say I am going to win the game for the team.

Samson added, "We have the players who can do that. If all of us try that. It's a team sport, but this is the time when we need individual players to step up."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-will-there-be-reserve-day-for-rcb-vs-csk-league-match-at-chinnaswamy-721832">IPL 2024: Will there be reserve day for RCB vs CSK league match at Chinnaswamy?</a>

Talking about the RR-PBKS tie, Rajasthan opted to bat first and rode on Riyan Parag's 48 to post 144 for 9&nbsp;on a sluggish surface. Despite having PBKS reduced to 48-4, RR failed to close the game as Punjab stand-in skipper Sam Curran stood tall with an impressive 41-ball 63 to guide his side home in 18.5 overs.

RR have been one of the most formidable sides in the past few seasons and done well too, however, they have often lost momentum in the business end and the same thing is repeating this time around as well. They have also not been helped by the fact that they are now without some key players like Jos Buttler, who has left for national duty.&nbsp;

RR have one more game to play, where they will host Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) -&nbsp;who will end the league stage as the top-ranked side - in Guwahati and hope to return to winning ways before the playoffs start next week.&nbsp;

Rajasthan Royals (RR) slumped to their fourth successive defeat in IPL 2024 when Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat them by five wickets, in pursuit of 145, in match 65 in Guwahati on Wednesday (May 15).

Rajasthan Royals (RR) slumped to their fourth successive defeat in IPL 2024 when Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat them by five wickets, in pursuit of 145, in match 65 in Guwahati on Wednesday (May 15). After a terrific start, having 8 wins in 9 games, RR have now lost four games on the trot despite confirming their place in the playoffs. With another defeat, their chances of finishing the league stage at the top-two has also gone down considerably. Following the five-wicket drubbing at the hands of already-eliminated Punjab, RR captain Sanju Samson didn't mince words as he called for the senior players to stand up. Speaking after the match, Samson stated, "To be very honest, we have to sit back and accept that we are going through some failures. You have to find out what's not working well as a team. When you are getting to the business end, we need someone to raise their finger up and say I am going to win the game for the team. Samson added, "We have the players who can do that. If all of us try that. It's a team sport, but this is the time when we need individual players to step up." Also read: IPL 2024: Will there be reserve day for RCB vs CSK league match at Chinnaswamy? Talking about the RR-PBKS tie, Rajasthan opted to bat first and rode on Riyan Parag's 48 to post 144 for 9 on a sluggish surface. Despite having PBKS reduced to 48-4, RR failed to close the game as Punjab stand-in skipper Sam Curran stood tall with an impressive 41-ball 63 to guide his side home in 18.5 overs. RR have been one of the most formidable sides in the past few seasons and done well too, however, they have often lost momentum in the business end and the same thing is repeating this time around as well. They have also not been helped by the fact that they are now without some key players like Jos Buttler, who has left for national duty. RR have one more game to play, where they will host Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - who will end the league stage as the top-ranked side - in Guwahati and hope to return to winning ways before the playoffs start next week.

IPL 2024: 'We have to sit back and accept...' - Sanju Samson addresses RR's woeful form before playoffs

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has urged Sanju Samson to show the world his capability with his performances at the 2024 T20 World Cup. For his impressive run with the bat and as a leader this season for Rajasthan Royals, Sanju earned a place in the 15-man squad for the marquee tournament starting June 1.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has urged Sanju Samson to show the world his capability with his performances at the 2024 T20 World Cup. For his impressive run with the bat and as a leader this season for Rajasthan Royals, Sanju earned a place in the 15-man squad for the marquee tournament starting June 1. Although he is the second-choice keeper after Rishabh Pant, Sanju will get some games to prove his credentials in the T20 World Cup. "Now that you've gotten picked in the World Cup team, you have that opportunity-the kind that you need to make sure you start winning games for India if you get the chance. You have that experience of playing international cricket. You are not a newbie that you will wait any longer," Gambhir said in a chat with SportsKeeda. "You have tasted international cricket, and you've done well in the IPL, and now you have the chance to play the World Cup. So, hopefully, Sanju shows the world what he is capable of at this stage. International cricket, that too in a stage like the World Cup, when you flourish, the whole world watches and takes note,” Gambhir continued. RR captaincy to take Sanju forward Leading Rajasthan Royals in the IPL has helped Sanju get better at decision and stroke-making, pushing him to become a mature player. Speaking on the same lines, Gambhir said he never doubted Sanju’s talent; being aware of his abilities, Gautam said Sanju’s leadership (with RR) will help him deliver at the marquee event. ALSO READ: Broad fears England’s ‘inexperienced’ bowling attack could get exposed in Anderson’s absence "Just the quality of a player,” Gambhir said. “I don't need to see much. Five minutes are enough to figure out what kind of a player he is," Gambhir said. "Mentally, you always grow, and skill-wise as well. Otherwise, if you get stagnant, you won't be able to survive for too long. “The good thing is be it fitness, power-hitting, keeping or captaincy... he has not put a foot wrong. Through captaincy, you start accessing, judging better, reading better. That is when you also become a better batter. I hope Samson's captaincy reflects on his batting at the T20 World Cup if he gets a chance,” he concluded. Meanwhile, Rajasthan has struggled lately despite qualifying for playoffs this season. Their fourth straight loss, the latest of which came against Punjab Kings in Guwahati the other night, has put them in a spot of bother, considering the knockouts are around the corner. However, their last league match is against the table-toppers and Gambhir-mentored KKR side on Sunday (May 19) in Guwahati.

‘You’re not a newbie, start winning games for India’: Gambhir pushes Sanju Samson to utilise T20 WC chance