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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Former Indian all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuvraj-singh" rel="dofollow">Yuvraj Singh</a> has thrown his weight behind <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunrisers-hyderabad" rel="dofollow">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> (SRH) as his favorites to lift the Indian Premier League 2025&nbsp;trophy. However, the World Cup-winning cricketer made it clear that his preference has nothing to do with his mentorship of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/abhishek-sharma">Abhishek Sharma</a>, one of SRH&rsquo;s most promising young stars.
Yuvraj, who has been closely working with&nbsp;Abhishek Sharma, has seen the youngster develop into a powerful top-order batter for SRH. In IPL 2024, Abhishek stunned everyone with his 63 off just 23 balls against Mumbai Indians (MI), playing a crucial role in SRH's record-breaking 277/3 total&mdash;the highest-ever in IPL history.
Speaking exclusively to WION, the former Indian cricketer said, "SRH looks a well-balanced team. They have enough firepower to life the coveted IPL trophy this season. I am not saying this because I am biased towards Abhishek, but they really are a strong team."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-record-breaker-gibbs-doesnt-think-scoring-300-in-an-inning-is-biggest-achievement-8880269">IPL 2025: Record-breaker Gibbs doesn&rsquo;t think scoring 300 in an inning is biggest achievement</a>
Despite his evident connection with Abhishek, Yuvraj was quick to clarify that his backing of SRH is based purely on the team's overall strength, balance, and performance, not personal bias. He believes that under the leadership of Pat Cummins, SRH has all the ingredients to go all the way this season.
In a lighthearted moment after Abhishek&rsquo;s stunning knock, Yuvraj praised the youngster's innings but jokingly pointed out his mistake while playing the short ball that led to his dismissal. This showed the high expectations the former cricketer has for his protege.
<h2 data-start="1156" data-end="1427">Yuvi's love for RCB&nbsp;</h2>
While SRH remains his top pick, Yuvraj also expressed his admiration for&nbsp;Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), saying that he would love to see them go all the way. RCB, a team with a massive fanbase and star players like&nbsp;Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell, has been chasing their elusive maiden IPL title for years.
By supporting both SRH and RCB, Yuvraj has set up an interesting narrative for the IPL season. Will SRH capitalise on their explosive batting lineup, or will RCB finally break their trophy drought? With Yuvraj&rsquo;s endorsement, all eyes will be on these two franchises as they battle for the IPL 2024 crown.
With high expectations and intense competition, IPL 2024 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons yet. Whether SRH lives up to Yuvraj&rsquo;s prediction or RCB fulfills the dreams of their loyal fans, one thing is certain&mdash;this tournament is going to be a&nbsp;thriller!

Sports, Cricket: Yuvraj, who has been closely working with Abhishek Sharma, has seen the youngster develop into a powerful top-order batter for Sunrisers Hyderabad

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has thrown his weight behind Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as his favorites to lift the Indian Premier League 2025 trophy. However, the World Cup-winning cricketer made it clear that his preference has nothing to do with his mentorship of Abhishek Sharma, one of SRH’s most promising young stars. Yuvraj, who has been closely working with Abhishek Sharma, has seen the youngster develop into a powerful top-order batter for SRH. In IPL 2024, Abhishek stunned everyone with his 63 off just 23 balls against Mumbai Indians (MI), playing a crucial role in SRH's record-breaking 277/3 total—the highest-ever in IPL history. Speaking exclusively to WION, the former Indian cricketer said, "SRH looks a well-balanced team. They have enough firepower to life the coveted IPL trophy this season. I am not saying this because I am biased towards Abhishek, but they really are a strong team." Also Read: IPL 2025: Record-breaker Gibbs doesn’t think scoring 300 in an inning is biggest achievement Despite his evident connection with Abhishek, Yuvraj was quick to clarify that his backing of SRH is based purely on the team's overall strength, balance, and performance, not personal bias. He believes that under the leadership of Pat Cummins, SRH has all the ingredients to go all the way this season. In a lighthearted moment after Abhishek’s stunning knock, Yuvraj praised the youngster's innings but jokingly pointed out his mistake while playing the short ball that led to his dismissal. This showed the high expectations the former cricketer has for his protege. Yuvi's love for RCB While SRH remains his top pick, Yuvraj also expressed his admiration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), saying that he would love to see them go all the way. RCB, a team with a massive fanbase and star players like Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell, has been chasing their elusive maiden IPL title for years. By supporting both SRH and RCB, Yuvraj has set up an interesting narrative for the IPL season. Will SRH capitalise on their explosive batting lineup, or will RCB finally break their trophy drought? With Yuvraj’s endorsement, all eyes will be on these two franchises as they battle for the IPL 2024 crown. With high expectations and intense competition, IPL 2024 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons yet. Whether SRH lives up to Yuvraj’s prediction or RCB fulfills the dreams of their loyal fans, one thing is certain—this tournament is going to be a thriller!

Exclusive | IPL 2025: Not RCB or Punjab Kings, Yuvraj Singh picks THIS team as favourite to lift title

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bangalore">Royal Challengers Bengaluru</a> (RCB) kick off their IPL 2025 campaign on the road, starting in Kolkata before heading to Chennai&mdash;two venues known for their spin-friendly conditions. For RCB to have a successful season, their spinners will need to step up. But do they have the firepower to make an impact?
In <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/krunal-pandya">Krunal Pandya</a>, RCB boasts an experienced left-arm orthodox spinner. However, with an IPL economy of 7.36 and an average of 34.28, he is classified as a defensive bowler. While such a role has its advantages&mdash;especially at the batting-friendly M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where RCB plays seven home games&mdash;his selection at $66 million was more about value than dominance.
Beyond Krunal, RCB's spin attack appears untested. Wristspinner Suyash Sharma remains an IPL rookie, his understudy Mohit Rathee is relatively unknown, and Liam Livingstone is a part-time option. Swapnil Singh delivered a steady performance last season, and Jacob Bethell may contribute, but overall, RCB's spin unit seems to lack bite compared to other teams.
Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-virat-kohlis-400th-t20-new-beginnings-old-challenges-and-hunt-for-glory-8878710"> </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-virat-kohlis-400th-t20-new-beginnings-old-challenges-and-hunt-for-glory-8878710">IPL 2025 | Virat Kohli&rsquo;s 400th T20: New beginnings, old challenges, and hunt for glory</a>
Head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/andy-flower">Andy Flower</a> acknowledged the concerns but expressed confidence in the combination of Krunal&rsquo;s experience, the wristspinners&rsquo; potential, and Livingstone&rsquo;s versatility.
"It's a valid question to ask," Flower admitted ahead of RCB&rsquo;s season opener at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/eden-gardens">Eden Gardens</a>. "Krunal was a key target in the auction. He&rsquo;s a smart, courageous cricketer with leadership experience. Having his nous and class as a left-arm spinner is reassuring for us."
Suyash has played only 13 IPL games in two seasons, with limited chances in 2024 after a promising debut in 2023. At Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he had the luxury of learning from experienced spinners like Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Now, at RCB, he takes the lead. Flower emphasized the need for patience.
"Suyash is an exciting young talent with a high ceiling but limited experience," Flower noted. "We're hoping for great things, but we also understand he won't be a Shane Warne overnight. He recently underwent groin surgery, which has gone well, and he&rsquo;s had excellent rehab under RCB's care."
Supporting the spin department, Swapnil Singh&rsquo;s steady performances from last season and Livingstone&rsquo;s ability to bowl a few overs add depth. "Having Livingstone as backup is a nice insurance policy," Flower added. "We&rsquo;re comfortable with our spin attack."
<h2>'Experienced bowlers bring confidence'</h2>
While spin remains a question mark, RCB&rsquo;s fast-bowling unit looks promising. The presence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Lungi Ngidi, Nuwan Thushara, and Rasikh Salam provides a mix of experience and form. Flower believes this balance will relieve pressure on new captain Rajat Patidar.
"Experienced bowlers bring confidence," Flower explained. "Hazlewood, Bhuvi, Yash, and Krunal all have leadership qualities. Even Yash, despite being young, has a calm, tactical mindset. These guys can almost captain themselves when it comes to decision-making."
Starting their season against tough opponents, RCB sees the challenge as an opportunity. When asked if facing defending champions KKR first was daunting, Flower responded with confidence:
"Yes, it&rsquo;s daunting&mdash;for KKR! I hope it turns into an El Cl&aacute;sico of IPL. That would be a fantastic way to kick off IPL 2025."

Sports, Cricket: Andy Flower acknowledged concerns but expressed confidence in the combination of Krunal’s experience, Suyash's potential, and Livingstone’s versatility

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) kick off their IPL 2025 campaign on the road, starting in Kolkata before heading to Chennai—two venues known for their spin-friendly conditions. For RCB to have a successful season, their spinners will need to step up. But do they have the firepower to make an impact? In Krunal Pandya, RCB boasts an experienced left-arm orthodox spinner. However, with an IPL economy of 7.36 and an average of 34.28, he is classified as a defensive bowler. While such a role has its advantages—especially at the batting-friendly M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where RCB plays seven home games—his selection at $66 million was more about value than dominance. Beyond Krunal, RCB's spin attack appears untested. Wristspinner Suyash Sharma remains an IPL rookie, his understudy Mohit Rathee is relatively unknown, and Liam Livingstone is a part-time option. Swapnil Singh delivered a steady performance last season, and Jacob Bethell may contribute, but overall, RCB's spin unit seems to lack bite compared to other teams. Also Read: IPL 2025 | Virat Kohli’s 400th T20: New beginnings, old challenges, and hunt for glory Head coach Andy Flower acknowledged the concerns but expressed confidence in the combination of Krunal’s experience, the wristspinners’ potential, and Livingstone’s versatility. "It's a valid question to ask," Flower admitted ahead of RCB’s season opener at Eden Gardens. "Krunal was a key target in the auction. He’s a smart, courageous cricketer with leadership experience. Having his nous and class as a left-arm spinner is reassuring for us." Suyash has played only 13 IPL games in two seasons, with limited chances in 2024 after a promising debut in 2023. At Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he had the luxury of learning from experienced spinners like Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Now, at RCB, he takes the lead. Flower emphasized the need for patience. "Suyash is an exciting young talent with a high ceiling but limited experience," Flower noted. "We're hoping for great things, but we also understand he won't be a Shane Warne overnight. He recently underwent groin surgery, which has gone well, and he’s had excellent rehab under RCB's care." Supporting the spin department, Swapnil Singh’s steady performances from last season and Livingstone’s ability to bowl a few overs add depth. "Having Livingstone as backup is a nice insurance policy," Flower added. "We’re comfortable with our spin attack." 'Experienced bowlers bring confidence' While spin remains a question mark, RCB’s fast-bowling unit looks promising. The presence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Lungi Ngidi, Nuwan Thushara, and Rasikh Salam provides a mix of experience and form. Flower believes this balance will relieve pressure on new captain Rajat Patidar. "Experienced bowlers bring confidence," Flower explained. "Hazlewood, Bhuvi, Yash, and Krunal all have leadership qualities. Even Yash, despite being young, has a calm, tactical mindset. These guys can almost captain themselves when it comes to decision-making." Starting their season against tough opponents, RCB sees the challenge as an opportunity. When asked if facing defending champions KKR first was daunting, Flower responded with confidence: "Yes, it’s daunting—for KKR! I hope it turns into an El Clásico of IPL. That would be a fantastic way to kick off IPL 2025."

IPL 2025 | Head coach Andy Flower confident, but can RCB’s spinners silence the critics?

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

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

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

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

IPL 2025: RCB’s Record in Last 7 Season Openers

IPL 2018: Lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 4 wickets

IPL 2019: Lost to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 7 wickets

IPL 2020: Won against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 10 runs

IPL 2021: Won against Mumbai Indians (MI) by 2 wickets

IPL 2022: Lost to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 5 wickets

IPL 2023: Won against Mumbai Indians (MI) by 8 wickets

IPL 2024: Lost to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 6 wickets

Sports, Cricket, IPL Web Stories: IPL 2025: RCB’s Record in Last 7 Season Openers including RCB vs KKR, CSK, SRH as the latest season gets underway. 

The Indian Premier League is back, and as always, the buzz around the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bangalore">Royal Challengers Bengaluru</a> (RCB) is electrifying. With a revamped squad featuring a formidable batting lineup and a strengthened bowling attack, the perennial underachievers are once again aiming for the elusive title. However, one lingering question remains&mdash;does RCB have the firepower to go all the way?
De Villiers, who spent 11 seasons with RCB, believes that the team's strategic moves during the player auction have bolstered their chances. He said, "I really think they made some incredibly good moves in the auction. It's an incredibly good, balanced team." <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ab-de-villiers">AB de Villiers</a>, while addressing the media ahead of the 18th season of the TATA IPL on Star Sports Press Room on Explosive Rankings, emphasised the depth of the batting lineup, noting the blend of power and control, and expressed confidence in the team's potential to clinch the title this year. ​
&lsquo;Yes, they might be lacking an X-factor spinner, but I don't see it as a massive problem,&rsquo; he said. &lsquo;The team has a wonderful balance this time, and that is going to be their biggest strength. Their real challenge will be navigating their tricky schedule, hopping across different venues. That will test their adaptability more than anything else."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/meet-new-zealand-star-tim-seifert-who-hit-shaheen-shah-afridi-for-four-sixes-in-an-over-as-nz-down-pak-in-2nd-t20i-8864586">Meet New Zealand star Tim Seifert, who hit Shaheen Shah Afridi for four sixes in an over as NZ down Pak in 2nd T20I</a>
A significant change for RCB this season is the appointment of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rajat-patidar">Rajat Patidar</a> as the new captain. De Villiers acknowledged the challenges Patidar might face, particularly the pressure of stepping into the shoes of former leaders like Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. He advised Patidar to remain authentic in his leadership approach, saying, "His challenge will be trusting himself. He must not try to captain like Virat or Faf but lead in his own way. Use the experience around him, but always stay true to who he is.&rsquo;"
Virat Kohli's role remains crucial for RCB. Despite stepping down from T20 internationals, De Villiers believes Kohli has 'plenty left in the tank', especially with the current batting lineup. He envisions Kohli as the 'batting captain', guiding the innings with his experience and game awareness. De Villiers also addressed external criticisms of Kohli's strike rate, suggesting that while outside opinions can influence any player, Kohli's focus and commitment on the field remain unwavering. ​
Interestingly, De Villiers also shared a light-hearted anecdote about the popular RCB chant 'Ee Sala Cup Namde', which translates to "This year, the cup is ours". He revealed that Kohli had messaged him, requesting him to refrain from using the phrase, perhaps to avoid jinxing their chances. De Villiers humorously recounted, "I said 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' somewhere and immediately got a text from Virat to not use it anymore."&nbsp;
<h2>'Rickelton-Rohit partnership might light up Wankhede'</h2>
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians are set to unleash a new weapon in South African batter Ryan Rickelton. Slotted to open alongside Rohit Sharma, the left-hander is in the form of his life and could be one of the most dangerous batters this season. &lsquo;Rickelton and Rohit&mdash;the double R&rsquo;s,&rsquo; AB de Villiers quipped. &lsquo;That&rsquo;s a partnership that could light up Wankhede this season. Mumbai loves an explosive overseas opener, and Rickelton fits the bill perfectly."
The IPL is known for producing young breakout stars, and former India cricketer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/aakash-chopra">Aakash Chopra</a> believes names like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav could take their performances to even greater heights this season. However, he pointed out, &lsquo;T20 is a format designed for failure. You will fail more than you succeed. The challenge is to keep evolving."
On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are dealing with some key departures, including Mitchell Starc and Phil Salt. They have tried to make up for it with Spencer Johnson and other additions, but whether they can replicate last season&rsquo;s success remains to be seen. "The team is still strong, but their biggest challenge will be overcoming internal conflicts and finding the right balance," Chopra remarked.
As the season unfolds, the stage is set for an unforgettable IPL. Will RCB finally lift the trophy? Can Mumbai&rsquo;s new opening duo set the tournament alight? And will Rajat Patidar&rsquo;s leadership prove to be the X-factor for Bengaluru? One thing is certain&mdash;this season promises drama, intensity, and moments of pure cricketing brilliance.

Sports, Cricket: AB de Villiers, who spent 11 seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, believes that the team's strategic moves during the auction have bolstered their chances

The Indian Premier League is back, and as always, the buzz around the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is electrifying. With a revamped squad featuring a formidable batting lineup and a strengthened bowling attack, the perennial underachievers are once again aiming for the elusive title. However, one lingering question remains—does RCB have the firepower to go all the way? De Villiers, who spent 11 seasons with RCB, believes that the team's strategic moves during the player auction have bolstered their chances. He said, "I really think they made some incredibly good moves in the auction. It's an incredibly good, balanced team." AB de Villiers, while addressing the media ahead of the 18th season of the TATA IPL on Star Sports Press Room on Explosive Rankings, emphasised the depth of the batting lineup, noting the blend of power and control, and expressed confidence in the team's potential to clinch the title this year. ‘Yes, they might be lacking an X-factor spinner, but I don't see it as a massive problem,’ he said. ‘The team has a wonderful balance this time, and that is going to be their biggest strength. Their real challenge will be navigating their tricky schedule, hopping across different venues. That will test their adaptability more than anything else." Also Read: Meet New Zealand star Tim Seifert, who hit Shaheen Shah Afridi for four sixes in an over as NZ down Pak in 2nd T20I A significant change for RCB this season is the appointment of Rajat Patidar as the new captain. De Villiers acknowledged the challenges Patidar might face, particularly the pressure of stepping into the shoes of former leaders like Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. He advised Patidar to remain authentic in his leadership approach, saying, "His challenge will be trusting himself. He must not try to captain like Virat or Faf but lead in his own way. Use the experience around him, but always stay true to who he is.’" Virat Kohli's role remains crucial for RCB. Despite stepping down from T20 internationals, De Villiers believes Kohli has 'plenty left in the tank', especially with the current batting lineup. He envisions Kohli as the 'batting captain', guiding the innings with his experience and game awareness. De Villiers also addressed external criticisms of Kohli's strike rate, suggesting that while outside opinions can influence any player, Kohli's focus and commitment on the field remain unwavering. Interestingly, De Villiers also shared a light-hearted anecdote about the popular RCB chant 'Ee Sala Cup Namde', which translates to "This year, the cup is ours". He revealed that Kohli had messaged him, requesting him to refrain from using the phrase, perhaps to avoid jinxing their chances. De Villiers humorously recounted, "I said 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' somewhere and immediately got a text from Virat to not use it anymore." 'Rickelton-Rohit partnership might light up Wankhede' Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians are set to unleash a new weapon in South African batter Ryan Rickelton. Slotted to open alongside Rohit Sharma, the left-hander is in the form of his life and could be one of the most dangerous batters this season. ‘Rickelton and Rohit—the double R’s,’ AB de Villiers quipped. ‘That’s a partnership that could light up Wankhede this season. Mumbai loves an explosive overseas opener, and Rickelton fits the bill perfectly." The IPL is known for producing young breakout stars, and former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes names like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav could take their performances to even greater heights this season. However, he pointed out, ‘T20 is a format designed for failure. You will fail more than you succeed. The challenge is to keep evolving." On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are dealing with some key departures, including Mitchell Starc and Phil Salt. They have tried to make up for it with Spencer Johnson and other additions, but whether they can replicate last season’s success remains to be seen. "The team is still strong, but their biggest challenge will be overcoming internal conflicts and finding the right balance," Chopra remarked. As the season unfolds, the stage is set for an unforgettable IPL. Will RCB finally lift the trophy? Can Mumbai’s new opening duo set the tournament alight? And will Rajat Patidar’s leadership prove to be the X-factor for Bengaluru? One thing is certain—this season promises drama, intensity, and moments of pure cricketing brilliance.

IPL 2025: AB de Villiers reveals Virat Kohli’s stance on ‘Ee Sala Cup Namde’ chant

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) is back for its 18th edition, and for fans of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), there is a growing sense of destiny attached to the number 18. The most loyal supporters of the franchise know this number all too well&mdash;it is the jersey number of their talisman, Virat Kohli.
For over a decade, Kohli has carried RCB on his shoulders, often being the lone warrior in a team that has struggled to cross the final hurdle. As IPL 2025 kicks off, the question arises once again: could this be the year RCB finally breaks its long-standing curse and lifts the coveted trophy?
<h2>RCB&rsquo;s journey: The eternal bridesmaids</h2>
Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</a> has been one of the most followed and passionately supported teams. Based in the cricket-mad city of Bangalore (now Bengaluru), the team has had everything&mdash;superstars, a strong fan base, financial backing, and electric home support at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Yet, the one thing that has remained elusive is the IPL trophy.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohlis-eye-catching-net-worth-can-buy-92-bugatti-veyrons-waterfront-palace-in-sydney-and-more-8864326">Virat Kohli's Eye-Catching Net Worth: Can buy 92 Bugatti Veyrons, waterfront palace in Sydney and more</a>
RCB has reached the final three times&mdash;2009, 2011, and 2016&mdash;only to fall short on each occasion. The 2009 final saw them lose to the Deccan Chargers, despite a solid campaign. In 2011, they were blown away by Chennai Super Kings and a rampaging MS Dhoni-led squad. But the most painful defeat arguably came in 2016, when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a> had a dream season, scoring a record-breaking 973 runs, only for RCB to stumble in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad. That season remains one of the biggest 'what-ifs' in IPL history.
Over the years, RCB has been home to some of the biggest names in T20 cricket&mdash;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chris-gayle">Chris Gayle</a>, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, and of course, Kohli. Despite their individual brilliance, the team has often lacked balance, particularly in the bowling department. The 'RCB curse' has become a running joke among IPL fans, but 2025 might just be the year things change.
<h2>Bengaluru's love affair with cricket</h2>
Bengaluru has always been a cricketing powerhouse. The city has produced legends like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Javagal Srinath. The Chinnaswamy Stadium is one of the most iconic venues in India, known for its electric atmosphere and high-scoring games due to its short boundaries. Yet, despite the love for cricket in the city, RCB has not been able to deliver a title to its passionate supporters.
Bengaluru's other major franchise, the Bengaluru Bulls in the Pro Kabaddi League, has tasted success, winning the PKL title in 2018. This has made RCB&rsquo;s lack of silverware even more glaring. However, if there&rsquo;s one thing common between RCB fans and Bengaluru's sporting culture, it&rsquo;s resilience. The city continues to rally behind its team, no matter how many heartbreaks they endure.
<h2>The symbolism of 18</h2>
The number 18 holds a special place in RCB&rsquo;s history, primarily because of Virat Kohli. He has worn this number throughout his career, both for India and RCB. The 18th edition of the IPL, therefore, feels symbolic&mdash;it&rsquo;s as if the cricketing universe is aligning for Kohli and RCB to finally lift the trophy.
Kohli, who stepped down as RCB captain after the 2021 season, remains the heart and soul of the team. Even without the armband, he continues to be their biggest match-winner and emotional leader. Could IPL 2025 be the perfect script for Kohli to finally lift the one trophy that has eluded him?
<h2>Destiny or just another year?</h2>
While numbers and symbolism make for great narratives, IPL is won on the field, not in theories. Every season, RCB starts with hope, and every season, their fans are left heartbroken. Yet, this time, there is an added element of destiny&mdash;the 18th edition, Kohli&rsquo;s 18, and possibly his last few seasons in the IPL.
If there was ever a time for RCB to rise, it is now. The ghosts of the past still linger, but cricket is a game of moments. If they can seize theirs, IPL 2025 might just be the year Bengaluru finally erupts in celebration. Will the number 18 bring luck, or will it just be another painful chapter in RCB&rsquo;s history? The next few months will tell.

Sports, Cricket: As IPL 2025 kicks off, the question arises once again: Could this be the year RCB finally breaks its long-standing curse and lifts the coveted trophy?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is back for its 18th edition, and for fans of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), there is a growing sense of destiny attached to the number 18. The most loyal supporters of the franchise know this number all too well—it is the jersey number of their talisman, Virat Kohli. For over a decade, Kohli has carried RCB on his shoulders, often being the lone warrior in a team that has struggled to cross the final hurdle. As IPL 2025 kicks off, the question arises once again: could this be the year RCB finally breaks its long-standing curse and lifts the coveted trophy? RCB’s journey: The eternal bridesmaids Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, Royal Challengers Bangalore has been one of the most followed and passionately supported teams. Based in the cricket-mad city of Bangalore (now Bengaluru), the team has had everything—superstars, a strong fan base, financial backing, and electric home support at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Yet, the one thing that has remained elusive is the IPL trophy. Also Read: Virat Kohli's Eye-Catching Net Worth: Can buy 92 Bugatti Veyrons, waterfront palace in Sydney and more RCB has reached the final three times—2009, 2011, and 2016—only to fall short on each occasion. The 2009 final saw them lose to the Deccan Chargers, despite a solid campaign. In 2011, they were blown away by Chennai Super Kings and a rampaging MS Dhoni-led squad. But the most painful defeat arguably came in 2016, when Virat Kohli had a dream season, scoring a record-breaking 973 runs, only for RCB to stumble in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad. That season remains one of the biggest 'what-ifs' in IPL history. Over the years, RCB has been home to some of the biggest names in T20 cricket—Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, and of course, Kohli. Despite their individual brilliance, the team has often lacked balance, particularly in the bowling department. The 'RCB curse' has become a running joke among IPL fans, but 2025 might just be the year things change. Bengaluru's love affair with cricket Bengaluru has always been a cricketing powerhouse. The city has produced legends like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Javagal Srinath. The Chinnaswamy Stadium is one of the most iconic venues in India, known for its electric atmosphere and high-scoring games due to its short boundaries. Yet, despite the love for cricket in the city, RCB has not been able to deliver a title to its passionate supporters. Bengaluru's other major franchise, the Bengaluru Bulls in the Pro Kabaddi League, has tasted success, winning the PKL title in 2018. This has made RCB’s lack of silverware even more glaring. However, if there’s one thing common between RCB fans and Bengaluru's sporting culture, it’s resilience. The city continues to rally behind its team, no matter how many heartbreaks they endure. The symbolism of 18 The number 18 holds a special place in RCB’s history, primarily because of Virat Kohli. He has worn this number throughout his career, both for India and RCB. The 18th edition of the IPL, therefore, feels symbolic—it’s as if the cricketing universe is aligning for Kohli and RCB to finally lift the trophy. Kohli, who stepped down as RCB captain after the 2021 season, remains the heart and soul of the team. Even without the armband, he continues to be their biggest match-winner and emotional leader. Could IPL 2025 be the perfect script for Kohli to finally lift the one trophy that has eluded him? Destiny or just another year? While numbers and symbolism make for great narratives, IPL is won on the field, not in theories. Every season, RCB starts with hope, and every season, their fans are left heartbroken. Yet, this time, there is an added element of destiny—the 18th edition, Kohli’s 18, and possibly his last few seasons in the IPL. If there was ever a time for RCB to rise, it is now. The ghosts of the past still linger, but cricket is a game of moments. If they can seize theirs, IPL 2025 might just be the year Bengaluru finally erupts in celebration. Will the number 18 bring luck, or will it just be another painful chapter in RCB’s history? The next few months will tell.

IPL 2025 | 18 years, number 18 (Kohli), and RCB’s championship dreams – Will it all align?

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru wrapped up their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/womens-premier-league">Women's Premier League</a> campaign on a positive note, defeating Mumbai Indians by 11 runs on Tuesday (March 11) and denying them a direct berth in the final.
This result secured Delhi Capitals&rsquo; place in the final on March 15, as they finished atop the table. MI, meanwhile, will face Gujarat Giants in the eliminator on March 13 at the same venue. DC, entering their third consecutive final, will aim to finally claim the elusive title.
Batting first, RCB posted a commanding 199/3, powered by skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/smriti-mandhana">Smriti Mandhana</a>&rsquo;s 53 off 37 balls. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ellyse-perry">Ellyse Perry</a> (49 off 38), Richa Ghosh (36 off 22), and Georgia Wareham (31 off 10) provided strong contributions to boost the total.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/alcaraz-powers-into-indian-wells-last-16-sabalenka-gauff-keys-advance-8844483">Alcaraz powers into Indian Wells last 16, Sabalenka, Gauff, Keys advance</a>
In response, MI fell short and ended at 188/9. Despite an explosive 35-ball 69 from Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sajeevan Sajana&rsquo;s quickfire 23 off 12, MI couldn't cross the finish line. Perry played a crucial role, dismissing Sciver-Brunt and Sajana at key moments.
RCB&rsquo;s bowling attack was led by all-rounder Sneh Rana, who impressed with figures of 3/26 in four overs. Wareham (1/29) and Kim Garth (2/33) also contributed to RCB&rsquo;s successful defense of their total.
<h2>Smriti finds form</h2>
Earlier, RCB got off to a flying start as Mandhana and Sabbhineni Meghana put on 41 runs in quick succession. Meghana, who struck a quickfire 26 off 13 balls, entertained the Brabourne Stadium crowd with her attacking strokes before falling to Hayley Matthews.
Mandhana, who had struggled throughout the season, found form and took the attack to the MI bowlers. She smashed Shabnim Ismail for an early boundary and punished <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/amelia-kerr">Amelia Kerr</a> for 22 runs in a single over, including two massive sixes. She reached her half-century with a stylish boundary off left-arm spinner Parunika Sisodia before being caught at long-off.
Perry anchored the innings after Mandhana&rsquo;s dismissal, while Ghosh and Wareham provided the late fireworks to propel RCB past 190.&nbsp; Among MI bowlers, Matthews (2/37) was the most successful, but their attack struggled to contain RCB&rsquo;s aggressive batting.
Despite being out of the title race, RCB ended their season on a high, while MI will now have to battle through the eliminator for a shot at the championship.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: MI will face Gujarat Giants in the eliminator on March 13 at the same venue. DC, entering their third consecutive final, will aim to finally claim elusive title

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru wrapped up their Women's Premier League campaign on a positive note, defeating Mumbai Indians by 11 runs on Tuesday (March 11) and denying them a direct berth in the final. This result secured Delhi Capitals’ place in the final on March 15, as they finished atop the table. MI, meanwhile, will face Gujarat Giants in the eliminator on March 13 at the same venue. DC, entering their third consecutive final, will aim to finally claim the elusive title. Batting first, RCB posted a commanding 199/3, powered by skipper Smriti Mandhana’s 53 off 37 balls. Ellyse Perry (49 off 38), Richa Ghosh (36 off 22), and Georgia Wareham (31 off 10) provided strong contributions to boost the total. Also Read: Alcaraz powers into Indian Wells last 16, Sabalenka, Gauff, Keys advance In response, MI fell short and ended at 188/9. Despite an explosive 35-ball 69 from Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sajeevan Sajana’s quickfire 23 off 12, MI couldn't cross the finish line. Perry played a crucial role, dismissing Sciver-Brunt and Sajana at key moments. RCB’s bowling attack was led by all-rounder Sneh Rana, who impressed with figures of 3/26 in four overs. Wareham (1/29) and Kim Garth (2/33) also contributed to RCB’s successful defense of their total. Smriti finds form Earlier, RCB got off to a flying start as Mandhana and Sabbhineni Meghana put on 41 runs in quick succession. Meghana, who struck a quickfire 26 off 13 balls, entertained the Brabourne Stadium crowd with her attacking strokes before falling to Hayley Matthews. Mandhana, who had struggled throughout the season, found form and took the attack to the MI bowlers. She smashed Shabnim Ismail for an early boundary and punished Amelia Kerr for 22 runs in a single over, including two massive sixes. She reached her half-century with a stylish boundary off left-arm spinner Parunika Sisodia before being caught at long-off. Perry anchored the innings after Mandhana’s dismissal, while Ghosh and Wareham provided the late fireworks to propel RCB past 190. Among MI bowlers, Matthews (2/37) was the most successful, but their attack struggled to contain RCB’s aggressive batting. Despite being out of the title race, RCB ended their season on a high, while MI will now have to battle through the eliminator for a shot at the championship. (With inputs from agencies)

WPL 2025: RCB deny MI direct entry into final with 11-run win; DC through to title clash

With striking beauty, effortless grace, and an aura of quiet dominance, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ellyse-perry">Ellyse Perry</a> is more than just a cricketing icon&mdash;she&rsquo;s a revolution in motion. The Australian all-rounder, a blend of sophistication and sheer power, has taken the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/womens-premier-league">Women&rsquo;s Premier League</a> (WPL) by storm, leading the Orange Cap race with 323 runs in seven innings. Whether she&rsquo;s driving through covers with elegance or steaming in with the ball, Perry makes the game look effortlessly poetic.
Perry&nbsp;reflected on her incredible career, the explosive growth of women&rsquo;s cricket, and the electric atmosphere at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chinnaswamy-stadium">M Chinnaswamy Stadium</a>&mdash;now a fortress for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) women&rsquo;s team on the&nbsp;RCB Bold and Beyond podcast.
Perry&rsquo;s love affair with Chinnaswamy began long before she wore RCB&rsquo;s red and gold. &ldquo;We went to the first-ever IPL match where <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/brendon-mccullum">Brendan McCullum</a> smashed around 150 runs for KKR. I remember thinking that was the most insane thing ever. Now, to be on the same field, with a packed stadium so loud that we can&rsquo;t even communicate&mdash;it&rsquo;s incredible,&rdquo; she recalls. From being a wide-eyed fan in the stands to having thousands of voices chanting her name in the same venue, Perry&rsquo;s journey has come full circle.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/wpl-2025-benched-but-not-broken-how-parunika-manifested-her-return-8838566">Exclusive-WPL 2025 | Benched, but not broken! How Parunika manifested her return</a>
Having made her international debut for Australia at just 17, Perry&rsquo;s career has spanned nearly two decades, something few players achieve at the highest level. The secret to her sustained excellence?&nbsp;Never stopping the learning process. &ldquo;I think the ability to keep learning has been my biggest motivation. Every year, the game gets a little bigger, a little better, and that constant evolution keeps me going. The challenge of improving never gets old,&rdquo; she shared.
Her insights into the mindset of young cricketers are fascinating. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s funny. When you&rsquo;re just starting, everything is so new that you don&rsquo;t even have time to overthink. You see young players come in, and it looks so easy for them because they have no expectations, no past experiences to draw from. They play with pure freedom,&rdquo; she said, reminiscing about her early days in the sport.
<h2 data-start="2174" data-end="2573">'Women can now have full-time careers in cricket'</h2>
Perry has been a front-row witness to the transformation of women&rsquo;s cricket. &ldquo;When I first started, hardly any of our matches were televised. Maybe one or two a year, and they were just warm-ups for men&rsquo;s games. The media narratives were always the same&mdash;questions about pay gaps, lack of attention, and limited opportunities. It felt like women&rsquo;s cricket was always positioned as an afterthought.&rdquo;
Fast forward to today, and the landscape has changed dramatically. &ldquo;Now, every single match is covered. We have 30,000 people in the stadium every night. Women can now have full-time careers in cricket&mdash;not just as players, but as coaches, administrators, executives. It&rsquo;s incredible to see.&rdquo;
Since the inception of the WPL, Perry has naturally taken on a leadership role at RCB, guiding the team&rsquo;s young stars and embracing the ever-growing competition. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been amazing to see the domestic talent coming through. Meeting young players&mdash;whether at RCB or other franchises&mdash;just shows how big this opportunity is for them.&rdquo; The rapid improvement in standards has also caught her eye. &ldquo;Every season, I see more young girls coming through, and it&rsquo;s honestly a bit scary! Every year I return, there are new faces pushing the level even higher. The quality of cricket is rising faster than ever.&rdquo;
With her signature elegance and commanding presence, Ellyse Perry is shaping the future of the sport. Whether she&rsquo;s charging in with the ball, or standing under the bright lights of Chinnaswamy as thousands chant her name, Perry remains the epitome of class, power, and cricketing excellence.

Sports, Cricket: From being a wide-eyed fan in the stands to having thousands of voices chanting her name in the same venue, Ellyse Perry’s journey has come full circle

With striking beauty, effortless grace, and an aura of quiet dominance, Ellyse Perry is more than just a cricketing icon—she’s a revolution in motion. The Australian all-rounder, a blend of sophistication and sheer power, has taken the Women’s Premier League (WPL) by storm, leading the Orange Cap race with 323 runs in seven innings. Whether she’s driving through covers with elegance or steaming in with the ball, Perry makes the game look effortlessly poetic. Perry reflected on her incredible career, the explosive growth of women’s cricket, and the electric atmosphere at M Chinnaswamy Stadium—now a fortress for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) women’s team on the RCB Bold and Beyond podcast. Perry’s love affair with Chinnaswamy began long before she wore RCB’s red and gold. “We went to the first-ever IPL match where Brendan McCullum smashed around 150 runs for KKR. I remember thinking that was the most insane thing ever. Now, to be on the same field, with a packed stadium so loud that we can’t even communicate—it’s incredible,” she recalls. From being a wide-eyed fan in the stands to having thousands of voices chanting her name in the same venue, Perry’s journey has come full circle. Also Read: Exclusive-WPL 2025 | Benched, but not broken! How Parunika manifested her return Having made her international debut for Australia at just 17, Perry’s career has spanned nearly two decades, something few players achieve at the highest level. The secret to her sustained excellence? Never stopping the learning process. “I think the ability to keep learning has been my biggest motivation. Every year, the game gets a little bigger, a little better, and that constant evolution keeps me going. The challenge of improving never gets old,” she shared. Her insights into the mindset of young cricketers are fascinating. “It’s funny. When you’re just starting, everything is so new that you don’t even have time to overthink. You see young players come in, and it looks so easy for them because they have no expectations, no past experiences to draw from. They play with pure freedom,” she said, reminiscing about her early days in the sport. 'Women can now have full-time careers in cricket' Perry has been a front-row witness to the transformation of women’s cricket. “When I first started, hardly any of our matches were televised. Maybe one or two a year, and they were just warm-ups for men’s games. The media narratives were always the same—questions about pay gaps, lack of attention, and limited opportunities. It felt like women’s cricket was always positioned as an afterthought.” Fast forward to today, and the landscape has changed dramatically. “Now, every single match is covered. We have 30,000 people in the stadium every night. Women can now have full-time careers in cricket—not just as players, but as coaches, administrators, executives. It’s incredible to see.” Since the inception of the WPL, Perry has naturally taken on a leadership role at RCB, guiding the team’s young stars and embracing the ever-growing competition. “It’s been amazing to see the domestic talent coming through. Meeting young players—whether at RCB or other franchises—just shows how big this opportunity is for them.” The rapid improvement in standards has also caught her eye. “Every season, I see more young girls coming through, and it’s honestly a bit scary! Every year I return, there are new faces pushing the level even higher. The quality of cricket is rising faster than ever.” With her signature elegance and commanding presence, Ellyse Perry is shaping the future of the sport. Whether she’s charging in with the ball, or standing under the bright lights of Chinnaswamy as thousands chant her name, Perry remains the epitome of class, power, and cricketing excellence.

WPL 2025 | Orange cap, red hot form: Ellyse Perry's love affair with Chinnaswamy stadium

March 8th&mdash;International Women's Day. A day to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women across the world. But what if we imagined a different kind of celebration this year? What if, for just one day, some of India's top cricketers had the power to lead the country? Players of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/royal-challengers-bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</a> (RCB) women&rsquo;s team were asked what they would do if they became Prime Minister for a day, and their answers were nothing short of spectacular!
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/smriti-mandhana">Smriti Mandhana</a>: "I'll take out the taxes." Smriti kicked things off with a bold statement. No taxes for one year. That&rsquo;s the kind of decision that would make every citizen love their PM. "I think everyone will love me. The whole of India will love me. I&rsquo;ll be the Prime Minister again and again!," she joked.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyanka-patil">Shreyanka Patil</a>: "I think there should be a national holiday for cricket." Much like International Yoga Day, Shreyanka envisions a Cricket Day where the entire country picks up a bat and ball and celebrates the sport that unites millions.
Kanika Ahuja: "If I become the Prime Minister, I'll steal all the money and run away to another country." A cheeky answer, of course, but let&rsquo;s hope Kanika was just being playful!
Watch the full video here:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
What would our Wonder Women do if they were made the Prime Minister of the country for a day? 😉 Some heartwarming, and some hilarious answers! Watch it only on <a href="https://twitter.com/bigbasket_com?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bigbasket_com</a> presents RCB Bold Diaries. 😂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%AE%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%AERCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ನಮ್ಮRCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WPL2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WPL2025</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SheIsBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SheIsBold</a> <a href="https://t.co/e4Q8JVYYQg">pic.twitter.com/e4Q8JVYYQg</a>
&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1893502727528800320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

Prema Rawat: "I will give jobs to my friends who are unemployed." Prema seems to have a generous heart, thinking of all those who complain about unemployment.
Richa Ghosh: "What can you do in a day by becoming the Prime Minister?" Richa brought up a valid point&mdash;one day isn&rsquo;t enough. But she said that everyone will get leaves.
Raghvi Bisht: "Probably sleep again." A classic answer. After all, being Prime Minister is exhausting!
Renuka Singh: "It takes time to understand the system, and people won&rsquo;t even believe I&rsquo;ve become PM!"
Sabbineni Meghana: "I&rsquo;ll enjoy the luxury, sit in the PM&rsquo;s chair, and just take in the moment!" Jagravi had the most relatable response. Who wouldn&rsquo;t want to experience the power of that position, even for a day?
But amongst the jokes and lighthearted responses, there was one answer that stood out: "If I get to become the Prime Minister, I&rsquo;ll do something for all the street animals."
In the midst of tax cuts and cricket holidays, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ekta-bisht">Ekta Bisht</a> turned her focus to a cause close to her heart.
And as the conversation wrapped up, Jagravi Pawar added, "I'll go home every day and eat dal and rice." Because at the end of the day, no matter how powerful or influential, we all find comfort in the simplest joys.

Cricket, Sports: Players of RCB women’s team were asked the question what they would do if they became Prime Minister for a day, and their answers were nothing short of spectacular

March 8th—International Women's Day. A day to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women across the world. But what if we imagined a different kind of celebration this year? What if, for just one day, some of India's top cricketers had the power to lead the country? Players of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) women’s team were asked what they would do if they became Prime Minister for a day, and their answers were nothing short of spectacular! Smriti Mandhana: "I'll take out the taxes." Smriti kicked things off with a bold statement. No taxes for one year. That’s the kind of decision that would make every citizen love their PM. "I think everyone will love me. The whole of India will love me. I’ll be the Prime Minister again and again!," she joked. Shreyanka Patil: "I think there should be a national holiday for cricket." Much like International Yoga Day, Shreyanka envisions a Cricket Day where the entire country picks up a bat and ball and celebrates the sport that unites millions. Kanika Ahuja: "If I become the Prime Minister, I'll steal all the money and run away to another country." A cheeky answer, of course, but let’s hope Kanika was just being playful! Watch the full video here: What would our Wonder Women do if they were made the Prime Minister of the country for a day? 😉 Some heartwarming, and some hilarious answers! Watch it only on @bigbasket_com presents RCB Bold Diaries. 😂#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #WPL2025 #SheIsBold pic.twitter.com/e4Q8JVYYQg — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) February 23, 2025 Prema Rawat: "I will give jobs to my friends who are unemployed." Prema seems to have a generous heart, thinking of all those who complain about unemployment. Richa Ghosh: "What can you do in a day by becoming the Prime Minister?" Richa brought up a valid point—one day isn’t enough. But she said that everyone will get leaves. Raghvi Bisht: "Probably sleep again." A classic answer. After all, being Prime Minister is exhausting! Renuka Singh: "It takes time to understand the system, and people won’t even believe I’ve become PM!" Sabbineni Meghana: "I’ll enjoy the luxury, sit in the PM’s chair, and just take in the moment!" Jagravi had the most relatable response. Who wouldn’t want to experience the power of that position, even for a day? But amongst the jokes and lighthearted responses, there was one answer that stood out: "If I get to become the Prime Minister, I’ll do something for all the street animals." In the midst of tax cuts and cricket holidays, Ekta Bisht turned her focus to a cause close to her heart. And as the conversation wrapped up, Jagravi Pawar added, "I'll go home every day and eat dal and rice." Because at the end of the day, no matter how powerful or influential, we all find comfort in the simplest joys.

Women’s Day special: What if RCB players became Prime Minister for a day? Here’s what they said - WATCH

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rcb" rel="dofollow">Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)</a> will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against the defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the first day of the tournament (March 22) at the Eden Gardens. RCB appointed batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/royal-challengers-bengaluru-name-rajat-patidar-as-new-skipper-ahead-of-ipl-2025-8716503" rel="dofollow">Rajat Patidar as the side&rsquo;s new captain</a>, replacing departed veteran opener Faf du Plessis, who will now feature for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. Meanwhile, RCB&rsquo;s final group game is against the KKR (May 17) in Bengaluru.
RCB&rsquo;s marquee clash against their rivals <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-check-out-chennai-super-kings-csk-full-schedule-csk-vs-mi-csk-vs-rcb-ms-dhoni-8726773" rel="dofollow">Chennai Super Kings (CSK)</a> is scheduled for March 28, while the return fixture will get underway on May 3 in Bengaluru.&nbsp;
Though they will play three of their first eight games at home (and five away), the M Chinnaswamy will stage four of their last six matches.&nbsp;
The new-look RCB side has enough firepower in their ranks to chase the ultimate glory, which is to win an IPL title. Having come close several times in the past years, including making it to the playoffs after beating CSK in the Southern Derby the last season, RCB believe they can strike a balance and do whatever it takes to realise their dream of being crowned the champions.&nbsp;
The inclusion of several match-winners across all departments, including the English batting trio of Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell, will boost their daunting-looking batting lineup while picking up homegrown talents like Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam and Jitesh Sharma in the last auction, further improve their chances of turning the tables around.
With the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-full-schedule-eden-gardens-to-host-season-opener-final-csk-mi-face-off-on-march-23-8726632" rel="dofollow">IPL announcing the final schedule of the 18th edition</a>, it&rsquo;s time we look at RCB&rsquo;s full schedule.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m77qv6tn-6kp6dovb-x22z0apz">
🚨 IPL 2025 Full Schedule Released! 🚨 🗓️ Here&rsquo;s when, where, and who we&rsquo;ll face in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TataIPL2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TataIPL2025</a>. 🔥 We&rsquo;re locking horns with CSK, RR, PBKS, KKR and DC twice. We play MI, GT, LSG and SRH once. 💪 Save the dates, 12th Man Army. We are ready to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a>! 🙌 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%AE%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%AERCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ನಮ್ಮRCB</a>&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/92NpYAw8e3">pic.twitter.com/92NpYAw8e3</a>
&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1891101634673156231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>Here is RCB&rsquo;s IPL 2025 full schedule -</h2>
<ul>
<li>KKR vs RCB - 7:30 pm - March 22 - Kolkata</li>
<li>CSK vs RCB - 7:30 pm - March 28 - Chennai</li>
<li>RCB vs GT - 7:30 pm - April 2 - Bengaluru</li>
<li>MI vs RCB - 7:30 pm - April 7 - Mumbai</li>
<li>RCB vs DC - 7:30 pm - April 10 - Bengaluru</li>
<li>RR vs RCB - 3:30 pm - April 13 - Jaipur</li>
<li>RCB vs PBKS - 7:30 pm - April 18 - Bengaluru</li>
<li>PBKS vs RCB - 3:30 pm - April 20 - Mullanpur</li>
<li>RCB vs RR - 7:30 pm - April 24 - Bengaluru</li>
<li>DC vs RCB - 7:30 pm - April 27 - Delhi</li>
<li>RCB vs CSK - 7:30 pm - May 3 - Bengaluru</li>
<li>LSG vs RCB - 7:30 pm - May 9 - Lucknow</li>
<li>RCB vs SRH - 7:30 pm - May 13 - Bengaluru</li>
<li>RCB vs KKR - 7:30 pm - May 17 - Bengaluru</li>
</ul>
<h3>RCB&rsquo;s IPL 2025 squad &ndash;</h3>
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh and Mohit Rathee

Sports, Cricket: RCB’s marquee clash against their rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is scheduled for March 28, while the return fixture will get underway on May 3 in Bengaluru.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against the defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the first day of the tournament (March 22) at the Eden Gardens. RCB appointed batter Rajat Patidar as the side’s new captain, replacing departed veteran opener Faf du Plessis, who will now feature for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. Meanwhile, RCB’s final group game is against the KKR (May 17) in Bengaluru. RCB’s marquee clash against their rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is scheduled for March 28, while the return fixture will get underway on May 3 in Bengaluru. Though they will play three of their first eight games at home (and five away), the M Chinnaswamy will stage four of their last six matches. The new-look RCB side has enough firepower in their ranks to chase the ultimate glory, which is to win an IPL title. Having come close several times in the past years, including making it to the playoffs after beating CSK in the Southern Derby the last season, RCB believe they can strike a balance and do whatever it takes to realise their dream of being crowned the champions. The inclusion of several match-winners across all departments, including the English batting trio of Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell, will boost their daunting-looking batting lineup while picking up homegrown talents like Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam and Jitesh Sharma in the last auction, further improve their chances of turning the tables around. With the IPL announcing the final schedule of the 18th edition, it’s time we look at RCB’s full schedule. 🚨 IPL 2025 Full Schedule Released! 🚨 🗓️ Here’s when, where, and who we’ll face in the #TataIPL2025. 🔥 We’re locking horns with CSK, RR, PBKS, KKR and DC twice. We play MI, GT, LSG and SRH once. 💪 Save the dates, 12th Man Army. We are ready to #PlayBold! 🙌 #ನಮ್ಮRCB… pic.twitter.com/92NpYAw8e3 — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) February 16, 2025 Here is RCB’s IPL 2025 full schedule - KKR vs RCB - 7:30 pm - March 22 - Kolkata CSK vs RCB - 7:30 pm - March 28 - Chennai RCB vs GT - 7:30 pm - April 2 - Bengaluru MI vs RCB - 7:30 pm - April 7 - Mumbai RCB vs DC - 7:30 pm - April 10 - Bengaluru RR vs RCB - 3:30 pm - April 13 - Jaipur RCB vs PBKS - 7:30 pm - April 18 - Bengaluru PBKS vs RCB - 3:30 pm - April 20 - Mullanpur RCB vs RR - 7:30 pm - April 24 - Bengaluru DC vs RCB - 7:30 pm - April 27 - Delhi RCB vs CSK - 7:30 pm - May 3 - Bengaluru LSG vs RCB - 7:30 pm - May 9 - Lucknow RCB vs SRH - 7:30 pm - May 13 - Bengaluru RCB vs KKR - 7:30 pm - May 17 - Bengaluru RCB’s IPL 2025 squad – Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh and Mohit Rathee

IPL 2025: Check out Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Full Schedule

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday (Feb 13) announced their new captain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season in a grand ceremony held in Bengaluru. Rajat Patidar will lead the side in IPL 2025 as he becomes the eighth different player to wear the captain&rsquo;s armband joining the likes of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. After the announcement, Virat congratulated Patidar pledging full support to the newly appointed skipper.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬! 💌 &ldquo;Myself and the other team members will be right behind you, Rajat&rdquo;: Virat Kohli &ldquo;The way you have grown in this franchise and the way you have performed, you&rsquo;ve made a place in the hearts of all RCB fans. This is very well deserved.&rdquo;&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/dgjDLm8ZCN">pic.twitter.com/dgjDLm8ZCN</a>
&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1889924890331111838?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2025</a></blockquote>

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<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Virat&rsquo;s message for Patidar</h2>
"So, this is very well deserved. And I want to tell you that myself and the other team members will be right behind you, and you'll have all our support to grow into this role. Of course, it's a big responsibility. I've done this for many years and Faf's done it for the last few years and to be seen as the guy who will take this franchise forward.
&ldquo;I'm sure it's a huge honour for you, and I'm very, very happy for you. You have earned the right to be in this position, and I'm sure you will grow from strength to strength,&rdquo; Virat said after Patidar was announced as the new skipper.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kevin-pietersen-gobsmacked-after-england-surrender-odi-series-3-0-says-im-sorry-but-i-am-absolutely-8715941" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kevin Pietersen gobsmacked after England surrender ODI series 3-0, says 'I&rsquo;m sorry, but I am absolutely...'</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">List of RCB captains</h2>
1. Rahul Dravid (2008) &ndash; The first captain of RCB in the inaugural IPL season.
2. Kevin Pietersen (2009) &ndash; Led the team for the first half of IPL 2009 before handing over the captaincy.
3. Anil Kumble (2009&ndash;2010) &ndash; Took over from Pietersen and led RCB to the IPL 2009 final.
4. Daniel Vettori (2011&ndash;2012) &ndash; Led the team to the IPL 2011 final.
5. Virat Kohli (2013&ndash;2021) &ndash; The longest-serving RCB captain, led them to the IPL 2016 final.
6. Faf du Plessis (2022&ndash;present) &ndash; Took over after Kohli stepped down.
7. Shane Watson (2017) &ndash; Stand-in captain for a few matches when Kohli and AB de Villiers were injured.
8. Rajat Patidar (Present)
The middle-order batter was one of three players retained by the franchise along with Virat and Yash Dayal in October. The franchise decided to not retain Faf and other senior players like Mohammed Siraj while showing faith in Patidar. The Madhya Pradesh captain showed glimpses of his captaincy in the SMAT where his side finished runners-up to Mumbai.
"Rajat has the simplicity, cares about the people around him, we have closely see how he led Madhya Pradesh, we really liked it," RCB head coach Andy Flower said during the unveiling.

Sports, Cricket: Rajat Patidar will lead RCB in IPL 2025 as he becomes the 8th different player to wear the captain’s armband joining the likes of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday (Feb 13) announced their new captain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season in a grand ceremony held in Bengaluru. Rajat Patidar will lead the side in IPL 2025 as he becomes the eighth different player to wear the captain’s armband joining the likes of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. After the announcement, Virat congratulated Patidar pledging full support to the newly appointed skipper. 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬! 💌 “Myself and the other team members will be right behind you, Rajat”: Virat Kohli “The way you have grown in this franchise and the way you have performed, you’ve made a place in the hearts of all RCB fans. This is very well deserved.”… pic.twitter.com/dgjDLm8ZCN — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) February 13, 2025 Virat’s message for Patidar "So, this is very well deserved. And I want to tell you that myself and the other team members will be right behind you, and you'll have all our support to grow into this role. Of course, it's a big responsibility. I've done this for many years and Faf's done it for the last few years and to be seen as the guy who will take this franchise forward. “I'm sure it's a huge honour for you, and I'm very, very happy for you. You have earned the right to be in this position, and I'm sure you will grow from strength to strength,” Virat said after Patidar was announced as the new skipper. ALSO READ | Kevin Pietersen gobsmacked after England surrender ODI series 3-0, says 'I’m sorry, but I am absolutely...' List of RCB captains 1. Rahul Dravid (2008) – The first captain of RCB in the inaugural IPL season. 2. Kevin Pietersen (2009) – Led the team for the first half of IPL 2009 before handing over the captaincy. 3. Anil Kumble (2009–2010) – Took over from Pietersen and led RCB to the IPL 2009 final. 4. Daniel Vettori (2011–2012) – Led the team to the IPL 2011 final. 5. Virat Kohli (2013–2021) – The longest-serving RCB captain, led them to the IPL 2016 final. 6. Faf du Plessis (2022–present) – Took over after Kohli stepped down. 7. Shane Watson (2017) – Stand-in captain for a few matches when Kohli and AB de Villiers were injured. 8. Rajat Patidar (Present) The middle-order batter was one of three players retained by the franchise along with Virat and Yash Dayal in October. The franchise decided to not retain Faf and other senior players like Mohammed Siraj while showing faith in Patidar. The Madhya Pradesh captain showed glimpses of his captaincy in the SMAT where his side finished runners-up to Mumbai. "Rajat has the simplicity, cares about the people around him, we have closely see how he led Madhya Pradesh, we really liked it," RCB head coach Andy Flower said during the unveiling.

Kohli hails Rajat Patidar's selection as RCB captain, says 'this is very well-deserved'

Rajat Patidar will lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the new latest season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) after an announcement on Thursday (Feb 13). Patidar becomes the eighth player to lead in the franchise history, joining the likes of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. Patidar recently led Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and saw off competition from Virat Kohli in the race for captaincy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A new chapter begins for RCB and we couldn&rsquo;t be more excited for Ra-Pa! 🤩 From being scouted for two to three years before he first made it to RCB in 2021, to coming back as injury replacement in 2022, missing out in 2023 due to injury, bouncing back and leading our middle&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/gStbPR2fwc">pic.twitter.com/gStbPR2fwc</a>
&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1889930275993633152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2025</a></blockquote>

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<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Patidar named new captain</h2>
In a special programme held by RCB in Bengaluru, Patidar succeeded Faf du Plessis as the new skipper with the latter no longer with the side after IPL 2025 auctions.
The middle-order batter was one of three players retained by the franchise along with Virat and Yash Dayal in October.
The franchise decided to not retain Faf and other senior players like Mohammed Siraj while showing faith in Patidar. The Madhya Pradesh captain showed glimpses of his captaincy in the SMAT where his side finished runners-up to Mumbai.
"Rajat has the simplicity, cares about the people around him, we have closely see how he led Madhya Pradesh, we really liked it," RCB head coach Andy Flower said during the unveiling.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kevin-pietersen-gobsmacked-after-england-surrender-odi-series-3-0-says-im-sorry-but-i-am-absolutely-8715941" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kevin Pietersen gobsmacked after England surrender ODI series 3-0, says 'I&rsquo;m sorry, but I am absolutely...'</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">List of RCB captains</h2>
1. Rahul Dravid (2008) &ndash; The first captain of RCB in the inaugural IPL season.
2. Kevin Pietersen (2009) &ndash; Led the team for the first half of IPL 2009 before handing over the captaincy.
3. Anil Kumble (2009&ndash;2010) &ndash; Took over from Pietersen and led RCB to the IPL 2009 final.
4. Daniel Vettori (2011&ndash;2012) &ndash; Led the team to the IPL 2011 final.
5. Virat Kohli (2013&ndash;2021) &ndash; The longest-serving RCB captain, led them to the IPL 2016 final.
6. Faf du Plessis (2022&ndash;present) &ndash; Took over after Kohli stepped down.
7. Shane Watson (2017) &ndash; Stand-in captain for a few matches when Kohli and AB de Villiers were injured.
8. Rajat Patidar (Present)
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">RCB Squad for IPL 2025</h2>
Retained players and their retention prices
Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal
Players acquired at the IPL 2025 auction
Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, and Nuwan Thushara.

Sports, Cricket: Rajat Patidar will lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the new latest season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) after an announcement on Thursday.

Rajat Patidar will lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the new latest season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) after an announcement on Thursday (Feb 13). Patidar becomes the eighth player to lead in the franchise history, joining the likes of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. Patidar recently led Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and saw off competition from Virat Kohli in the race for captaincy. A new chapter begins for RCB and we couldn’t be more excited for Ra-Pa! 🤩 From being scouted for two to three years before he first made it to RCB in 2021, to coming back as injury replacement in 2022, missing out in 2023 due to injury, bouncing back and leading our middle… pic.twitter.com/gStbPR2fwc — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) February 13, 2025 Patidar named new captain In a special programme held by RCB in Bengaluru, Patidar succeeded Faf du Plessis as the new skipper with the latter no longer with the side after IPL 2025 auctions. The middle-order batter was one of three players retained by the franchise along with Virat and Yash Dayal in October. The franchise decided to not retain Faf and other senior players like Mohammed Siraj while showing faith in Patidar. The Madhya Pradesh captain showed glimpses of his captaincy in the SMAT where his side finished runners-up to Mumbai. "Rajat has the simplicity, cares about the people around him, we have closely see how he led Madhya Pradesh, we really liked it," RCB head coach Andy Flower said during the unveiling. ALSO READ | Kevin Pietersen gobsmacked after England surrender ODI series 3-0, says 'I’m sorry, but I am absolutely...' List of RCB captains 1. Rahul Dravid (2008) – The first captain of RCB in the inaugural IPL season. 2. Kevin Pietersen (2009) – Led the team for the first half of IPL 2009 before handing over the captaincy. 3. Anil Kumble (2009–2010) – Took over from Pietersen and led RCB to the IPL 2009 final. 4. Daniel Vettori (2011–2012) – Led the team to the IPL 2011 final. 5. Virat Kohli (2013–2021) – The longest-serving RCB captain, led them to the IPL 2016 final. 6. Faf du Plessis (2022–present) – Took over after Kohli stepped down. 7. Shane Watson (2017) – Stand-in captain for a few matches when Kohli and AB de Villiers were injured. 8. Rajat Patidar (Present) RCB Squad for IPL 2025 Retained players and their retention prices Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal Players acquired at the IPL 2025 auction Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, and Nuwan Thushara.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru name Rajat Patidar as new skipper ahead of IPL 2025

Dinesh Karthik is all set to become the first Indian player to feature in the SA20 2025 after an announcement was made on Tuesday (August 6). Karthik, who is one of the best of his generation won the 2007 T20 World Cup and is renowned for his slog-hitting ability for India. He will team up with Paarl Royals in the 2025 season where Karthik will fill the shoes of Jos Buttler who withdrew from the tournament.

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Batter. Keeper. Finisher. 🇮🇳 
 
Welcome to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoyalsFamily?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoyalsFamily</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DineshKarthik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DineshKarthik</a> 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/f7bdcVFCRP">pic.twitter.com/f7bdcVFCRP</a>
— Paarl Royals (@paarlroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/paarlroyals/status/1820706102314782848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Karthik to feature in SA20</h2>

Having called time from his Indian Premier League (IPL) career after last season, Karthik worked with the International Cricket Council (ICC) as their world feed commentator during the T20 World Cup. He was unlikely to return to on-field competitive action, but with Buttler unavailable for the upcoming season, an approach was made for the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) man. On Tuesday, he took to his social media platform to confirm the decision.

At 39, he still is one of the best slog hitters and was included in the Indian team for the 2022 T20 World Cup. There were in fact chances of Karthik being called up to the Indian team for the 2024 T20 World Cup where India emerged victorious.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paris-olympics-2024-usa-gymnast-simone-biles-caps-splendid-campaign-with-three-golds-and-a-silver-747496">Paris Olympics 2024: USA gymnast Simone Biles caps splendid campaign with three golds and a silver</a>

<h2>What happened to Buttler?</h2>

The England white-ball skipper has opted not to participate in the SA20 owing to workload issues. The SA20 is likely to take place in January which could collide with England’s warm-up fixtures before the 2025 Champions Trophy.

“Hi everyone, Jos Buttler here. This is a message from all Paarl Royals fans. Disappointed that I would not be coming back to the SA20 this year. There are some England games on that’s where all my focus will be there. So yeah, it’s a shame that I won’t be coming back to the tournament,” Buttler said in a statement.

Dinesh Karthik is all set to become the first Indian player to feature in the SA20 2025 after an announcement was made on Tuesday (August 6). Karthik, who is one of the best of his generation won the 2007 T20 World Cup and is renowned for his slog-hitting ability for India.

Dinesh Karthik is all set to become the first Indian player to feature in the SA20 2025 after an announcement was made on Tuesday (August 6). Karthik, who is one of the best of his generation won the 2007 T20 World Cup and is renowned for his slog-hitting ability for India. He will team up with Paarl Royals in the 2025 season where Karthik will fill the shoes of Jos Buttler who withdrew from the tournament. Batter. Keeper. Finisher. 🇮🇳 Welcome to the #RoyalsFamily, @DineshKarthik 🔥 pic.twitter.com/f7bdcVFCRP — Paarl Royals (@paarlroyals) August 6, 2024 × Karthik to feature in SA20 Having called time from his Indian Premier League (IPL) career after last season, Karthik worked with the International Cricket Council (ICC) as their world feed commentator during the T20 World Cup. He was unlikely to return to on-field competitive action, but with Buttler unavailable for the upcoming season, an approach was made for the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) man. On Tuesday, he took to his social media platform to confirm the decision. At 39, he still is one of the best slog hitters and was included in the Indian team for the 2022 T20 World Cup. There were in fact chances of Karthik being called up to the Indian team for the 2024 T20 World Cup where India emerged victorious. ALSO READ | Paris Olympics 2024: USA gymnast Simone Biles caps splendid campaign with three golds and a silver What happened to Buttler? The England white-ball skipper has opted not to participate in the SA20 owing to workload issues. The SA20 is likely to take place in January which could collide with England’s warm-up fixtures before the 2025 Champions Trophy. “Hi everyone, Jos Buttler here. This is a message from all Paarl Royals fans. Disappointed that I would not be coming back to the SA20 this year. There are some England games on that’s where all my focus will be there. So yeah, it’s a shame that I won’t be coming back to the tournament,” Buttler said in a statement.

Dinesh Karthik becomes first Indian to join SA20, to play for Paarl Royals in 2025 season

Delhi Capitals captain and ace keeper-batter Rishabh Pant could join MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in a trade deal ahead of IPL 2025, per the latest reports. The most capped Delhi player, Pant, could switch bases for the first time since his league debut, as franchise owners are undecided on his retention. Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giant captain (LSG) KL Rahul might leave the team and rejoin Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the upcoming season.

Pant returned to on-field cricket last year for the first time since suffering multiple injuries in a horrific road accident on New Year’s Eve in 2022. After NCA cleared him to take the field, Pant returned to captain Delhi Capitals last year. Following a shallow start to the 17th edition, Pant was among the runs, finishing the tournament with 446 runs in 13 innings, averaging 40.55.

However, despite his valiant efforts as a captain and batter, he failed to guide his team to a playoff finish, as they ended up sixth on the points table, with seven wins and as many losses.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/watch-shamar-joseph-breaks-roof-tiles-at-trent-bridge-with-monster-six-as-west-indies-take-first-innings-lead-742653">WATCH: Shamar Joseph breaks roof tiles at Trent Bridge with MONSTER six as West Indies take first innings lead</a>

With head coach Ricky Ponting also departing and considering the mega auction will take place ahead of the next season, DC’s decision-makers are contemplating removing Pant from the captaincy and trading with a player at CSK.

And being unclear about MS Dhoni’s participation in the next edition, Pant’s trade to the franchise could be a win-win situation for both the team and the batter.&nbsp;

But, per a report in Dainik Jagran, Delhi Capitals Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly wishes to stick with Pant as a marquee player in the side going forward.

<h2>Rahul to lead RCB</h2>

KL Rahul has been the mainstay for LSG since the side’s debut in 2022. But after what unfolded last year following the game against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), when owner Sanjeev Goenka publicly lashed out at his team’s captain, the relationship between the two turned sour.

Although Goenka did invite Rahul over dinner at his place to mend things, it seemed to have gone too far by then.

Considering the new season is approaching, Rahul is reportedly returning to RCB and replacing Faf du Plessis as the side’s new captain. With Faf unlikely to get retained or picked at the auction table, given his age,&nbsp;he remains fittest among many. Rahul’s appointment as the new captain could help the owners build a team around him, aiming for the long-eluded IPL trophy.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Delhi Capitals captain and ace keeper-batter Rishabh Pant could join MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in a trade deal ahead of IPL 2025, per the latest reports. The most capped Delhi player, Pant, could switch bases for the first time since his league debut, as franchise owners are undecided on his retention.

Delhi Capitals captain and ace keeper-batter Rishabh Pant could join MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in a trade deal ahead of IPL 2025, per the latest reports. The most capped Delhi player, Pant, could switch bases for the first time since his league debut, as franchise owners are undecided on his retention. Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giant captain (LSG) KL Rahul might leave the team and rejoin Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the upcoming season. Pant returned to on-field cricket last year for the first time since suffering multiple injuries in a horrific road accident on New Year’s Eve in 2022. After NCA cleared him to take the field, Pant returned to captain Delhi Capitals last year. Following a shallow start to the 17th edition, Pant was among the runs, finishing the tournament with 446 runs in 13 innings, averaging 40.55. However, despite his valiant efforts as a captain and batter, he failed to guide his team to a playoff finish, as they ended up sixth on the points table, with seven wins and as many losses. ALSO READ: WATCH: Shamar Joseph breaks roof tiles at Trent Bridge with MONSTER six as West Indies take first innings lead With head coach Ricky Ponting also departing and considering the mega auction will take place ahead of the next season, DC’s decision-makers are contemplating removing Pant from the captaincy and trading with a player at CSK. And being unclear about MS Dhoni’s participation in the next edition, Pant’s trade to the franchise could be a win-win situation for both the team and the batter. But, per a report in Dainik Jagran, Delhi Capitals Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly wishes to stick with Pant as a marquee player in the side going forward. Rahul to lead RCB KL Rahul has been the mainstay for LSG since the side’s debut in 2022. But after what unfolded last year following the game against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), when owner Sanjeev Goenka publicly lashed out at his team’s captain, the relationship between the two turned sour. Although Goenka did invite Rahul over dinner at his place to mend things, it seemed to have gone too far by then. Considering the new season is approaching, Rahul is reportedly returning to RCB and replacing Faf du Plessis as the side’s new captain. With Faf unlikely to get retained or picked at the auction table, given his age, he remains fittest among many. Rahul’s appointment as the new captain could help the owners build a team around him, aiming for the long-eluded IPL trophy. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals plots Rishabh Pant’s trade to CSK; KL Rahul to leave LSG for ex-franchise - Reports

Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement from professional cricket on Saturday (June 1). The Tamil Nadu-based star player took to his social media handles to announce his decision to step aside from all forms of games. In a heartfelt note, DK, as most fans call him, thanked his parents, coaches, and wife, Dipika, for being the pillars in his life and contributing immensely to his success.

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It's official 💖 
 
Thanks 
DK 🙏🏽 <a href="https://t.co/NGVnxAJMQ3">pic.twitter.com/NGVnxAJMQ3</a>
— DK (@DineshKarthik) <a href="https://twitter.com/DineshKarthik/status/1796888536894873739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Of all the Indian players who debuted before 2005, Dinesh was the last of the active ones, with MS Dhoni, who also debuted in 2004, announcing his international retirement in 2020.&nbsp;

A domestic giant, DK scored 9,620 runs in 167 First-Class matches. In his international career that spanned almost two decades, Dinesh played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 60 T20Is, scoring 1,025, 1.752 and 686 runs, respectively. Although he scored just one international hundred, 129 vs Bangladesh in Tests, DK hit 17 fifties across formats.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-we-know-the-stakes-and-are-ready-to-redeem-ourselves-says-wis-nicholas-pooran-727802">T20 World Cup: We know the stakes and are ready to redeem ourselves, says WI’s Nicholas Pooran</a>

Starting from his ODI debut against England at Lord’s in 2004, where he affected perhaps his most-watched stumping (of Michael Vaughan), Karthik saw a lot of ups and downs in his playing career. Following a slump after his international debut, DK returned to reckoning a couple of years later, playing in India’s first T20I game against South Africa in December 2006 in Johannesburg.

The right-handed keeper-batter was also part of the 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa, which India won, and the 2013 Champions Trophy winning campaign in England. Though he was a youngster and barely played games in the 2007 T20 WC, Karthik was India’s mainstay at number four six years later.&nbsp;

<h2>The famous Nidahas Trophy six and beyond</h2>

Although the fans remember him for the countless times he contributed to Indian cricket, the most famous one came during the Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh when he smashed a last-ball six to win the multi-team tournament for the Men in Blue.&nbsp;

Ironically, its video on YouTube is among the most-watched cricketing videos available.

WATCH THE VIDEO -

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Besides, DK, till now, was among the handful of Indian cricketers who played all seasons of IPL since 2008. Lately, he represented the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2024, scoring 326 runs from 15 matches. Midway into the tournament, DK announced his decision to step aside from the cash-rich league.

Meanwhile, DK last played for India during the T20 World Cup tie against Bangladesh in Adelaide in 2022.

DK will resume his new job as a cricket commentator and broadcaster.

Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement from professional cricket on Saturday (June 1). The Tamil Nadu-based star player took to his social media handles to announce his decision to step aside from all forms of games.

Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement from professional cricket on Saturday (June 1). The Tamil Nadu-based star player took to his social media handles to announce his decision to step aside from all forms of games. In a heartfelt note, DK, as most fans call him, thanked his parents, coaches, and wife, Dipika, for being the pillars in his life and contributing immensely to his success. It's official 💖 Thanks DK 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/NGVnxAJMQ3 — DK (@DineshKarthik) June 1, 2024 × Of all the Indian players who debuted before 2005, Dinesh was the last of the active ones, with MS Dhoni, who also debuted in 2004, announcing his international retirement in 2020. A domestic giant, DK scored 9,620 runs in 167 First-Class matches. In his international career that spanned almost two decades, Dinesh played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 60 T20Is, scoring 1,025, 1.752 and 686 runs, respectively. Although he scored just one international hundred, 129 vs Bangladesh in Tests, DK hit 17 fifties across formats. ALSO READ: T20 World Cup: We know the stakes and are ready to redeem ourselves, says WI’s Nicholas Pooran Starting from his ODI debut against England at Lord’s in 2004, where he affected perhaps his most-watched stumping (of Michael Vaughan), Karthik saw a lot of ups and downs in his playing career. Following a slump after his international debut, DK returned to reckoning a couple of years later, playing in India’s first T20I game against South Africa in December 2006 in Johannesburg. The right-handed keeper-batter was also part of the 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa, which India won, and the 2013 Champions Trophy winning campaign in England. Though he was a youngster and barely played games in the 2007 T20 WC, Karthik was India’s mainstay at number four six years later. The famous Nidahas Trophy six and beyond Although the fans remember him for the countless times he contributed to Indian cricket, the most famous one came during the Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh when he smashed a last-ball six to win the multi-team tournament for the Men in Blue. Ironically, its video on YouTube is among the most-watched cricketing videos available. WATCH THE VIDEO - × Besides, DK, till now, was among the handful of Indian cricketers who played all seasons of IPL since 2008. Lately, he represented the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2024, scoring 326 runs from 15 matches. Midway into the tournament, DK announced his decision to step aside from the cash-rich league. Meanwhile, DK last played for India during the T20 World Cup tie against Bangladesh in Adelaide in 2022. DK will resume his new job as a cricket commentator and broadcaster.

India’s Dinesh Karthik retires from professional cricket, pens heartfelt note

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pace bowler Tushar Deshpande did not leave the opportunity to get even with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after the latter crashed out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday (May 22) against Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pace bowler Tushar Deshpande did not leave the opportunity to get even with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after the latter crashed out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday (May 22) against Rajasthan Royals (RR). Deshpande shared an Instagram story mocking the Bengaluru side but later deleted it due to public backlash. Deshpande, who finished the season with 17 wickets, shared a post by a CSK fan page which had an image of the Bengaluru Cant. Railway Station with the caption, “Nothing just a railway station in Bengaluru!”. The CSK seamer further wrote, “CSK fans are built different” while tagging the account. Deshpande was clapping back as RCB players had celebrated wildly after defeating CSK in the final league match of the tournament to qualify for the Eliminator. The defeat meant that CSK could not qualify for the playoffs for only the third time in tournament's 17-year history. However, RCB was criticised post the match as MS Dhoni walked off the pitch without shaking hands with the Bengaluru players who were oblivious and busy celebrating the win. Videos on social media showed Dhoni waiting for the RCB players to come around and do the obligatory handshake. However, after no one approached him, Dhoni made his way to the dressing room, prompting Virat Kohli to follow him inside and have a chat with the veteran star. Also read | 'Don't think you'll win...': Ex-CSK batter Ambati Rayudu claps back at RCB for aggressive celebrations Rayudu takes a dig Apart from Deshpande, former CSK batter Ambati Rayudu also hit back at RCB after the loss, stating that defeating the record-time champions was not a guarantee for an IPL trophy. "If you talk about RCB today, it shows that only passion and aggressive celebrations don't win you trophies. You need to plan. You didn't get the IPL trophy just by reaching the playoffs. You have to play with the same hunger," said Rayudu. "Don't think you will win the IPL trophy just by beating CSK. You will have to come next year once again," he added. Chasing the modest target of 173 set by RCB, RR qualified for the next knockout match against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) after Riyan Parag (36) and Shimron Hetmyer (26) stitched a 45-run partnership in the middle to keep RCB at bay. (With inputs from agencies)

CSK's Tushar Deshpande mocks RCB, shares 'Bengaluru Cant' post after Eliminator defeat

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Ambati Rayudu has taken a swipe at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after the Faf du Plessis-led side crashed out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday (May 22).

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Ambati Rayudu has taken a swipe at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after the Faf du Plessis-led side crashed out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday (May 22). Rayudu recalled RCB's aggressive celebrations against CSK in the last league match and said only winning against the record-time champions did not yield a trophy. "If you talk about RCB today, it shows that only passion and aggressive celebrations don't win you trophies. You need to plan. You didn't get the IPL trophy just by reaching the playoffs. You have to play with the same hunger," said Rayudu. "Don't think you will win the IPL trophy just by beating CSK. You will have to come next year once again," he added. After RCB booked their spot in the playoffs with a sensational win over CSK, the players went overboard with their celebrations. The RCB players were criticised as MS Dhoni walked off the pitch without shaking hands with the players who were oblivious and busy celebrating the win. Videos on social media showed that Dhoni waited for the RCB players who kept celebrating before making his way to the dressing room without shaking hands. Virat Kohli later followed him inside to talk to the veteran star. Also read | IPL 2024: All-round Rajasthan Royals eliminate Royal Challengers Bengaluru to enter second qualifier Apart from being the "celebration-police", Rayudu also schooled the RCB management for not blooding the Indian players throughout the last 17 editions. "They need to show more faith in Indians, especially in Indian talent. I don't think in the past 16 years any Indian batter apart from Virat Kohli has scored more than 1,000 runs, and Virat is at 8,000. That shows that you don't have any confidence in Indian talent," said Rayudu. RCB crash out after eliminator defeat RCB failed to turn up on the big occasion as batting first, the team could only manage a sub-par total of 172. Trent Boult and Ravichandran Ashwin bowled excellent spells as RCB batters struggled to gain any momentum throughout the innings. Chasing the modest target, RR started off briskly before Lockie Ferguson removed Tom Kohler-Cadmore in the sixth over. Sanju Samson displayed his audacious strokeplay before a rush-of-blood shot from him saw Dinesh Karthik stump him out. Just when it looked like RR were losing control in the middle overs, Riyan Parag (36) and Shimron Hetmyer (26) added 45 runs for the fifth wicket to shut the door on RCB. (With inputs from agencies)

'Don't think you'll win...': Ex-CSK batter Ambati Rayudu claps back at RCB for aggressive celebrations

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

Fugitive and former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) owner Vijay Mallya has patted his own back for picking Virat Kohli in the auction ahead of the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008. Mallya, who has been on the run from the Indian authorities over financial fraud, wished best of luck to RCB who face Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator on Wednesday (May 22).&nbsp;

RCB bought Kohli for $30,000 for the 2008 edition after he led India to victory in the 2008 U19 World Cup. Despite not having won the IPL title even once, Kohli has remained loyal to the franchise and expressed on multiple occasions that he hopes to end his playing career in Bengaluru.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"When I bid for the RCB franchise and I bid for Virat, my inner instinct told me that I could not have made better choices. My inner instinct tells me that RCB have the best chance to go for the IPL Trophy. Onward and Upward. Best of luck,"&nbsp;Mallya posted on X (formerly Twitter).&nbsp;

The fans on the social media, however, had a field day trolling Mallya who usually only posts on the platform on bank holidays while sitting in the UK, away from the Indian authorities.&nbsp;

"For the first time in 6-7 years he has tweeted on a non holiday. We are massive," said one user, while another commented: "What did your instinct tell you when you fled the country instead of paying what you owed, you THIEF."

A third added: "Your inner instinct doesn't tell you to come back and watch the match in the stadium?"

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When I bid for the RCB franchise and I bid for Virat, my inner instinct told me that I could not have made better choices. My inner instinct tells me that RCB have the best chance to go for the IPL Trophy. Onward and Upward. Best of luck.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVijayMallya/status/1793023778965922195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The industrialist, whose interests include everything from alcohol to cricket to Formula 1 to aviation, is currently in Britain, as the Indian government attempts to extradite him. Despite receiving multiple summons, Mallya has failed to show up in court.

In 2017, the Supreme Court found Mallya in contempt of court for hiding information from the court about sending $40 million to his children in violation of the court's order. The court has summoned him on several instances.

<h2>RCB face RR challenge</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;

(With inputs from agencies)

Fugitive and former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) owner Vijay Mallya has patted his own back for picking Virat Kohli in the auction ahead of the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008.

Fugitive and former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) owner Vijay Mallya has patted his own back for picking Virat Kohli in the auction ahead of the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008. Mallya, who has been on the run from the Indian authorities over financial fraud, wished best of luck to RCB who face Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator on Wednesday (May 22). RCB bought Kohli for $30,000 for the 2008 edition after he led India to victory in the 2008 U19 World Cup. Despite not having won the IPL title even once, Kohli has remained loyal to the franchise and expressed on multiple occasions that he hopes to end his playing career in Bengaluru. "When I bid for the RCB franchise and I bid for Virat, my inner instinct told me that I could not have made better choices. My inner instinct tells me that RCB have the best chance to go for the IPL Trophy. Onward and Upward. Best of luck," Mallya posted on X (formerly Twitter). The fans on the social media, however, had a field day trolling Mallya who usually only posts on the platform on bank holidays while sitting in the UK, away from the Indian authorities. "For the first time in 6-7 years he has tweeted on a non holiday. We are massive," said one user, while another commented: "What did your instinct tell you when you fled the country instead of paying what you owed, you THIEF." A third added: "Your inner instinct doesn't tell you to come back and watch the match in the stadium?" When I bid for the RCB franchise and I bid for Virat, my inner instinct told me that I could not have made better choices. My inner instinct tells me that RCB have the best chance to go for the IPL Trophy. Onward and Upward. Best of luck. — Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) May 21, 2024 × The industrialist, whose interests include everything from alcohol to cricket to Formula 1 to aviation, is currently in Britain, as the Indian government attempts to extradite him. Despite receiving multiple summons, Mallya has failed to show up in court. In 2017, the Supreme Court found Mallya in contempt of court for hiding information from the court about sending $40 million to his children in violation of the court's order. The court has summoned him on several instances. 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. (With inputs from agencies)

'Will you come back?' ask fans as fugitive Vijay Mallya talks about Virat Kohli ahead of RCB's knockout match

Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson has apologised to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans for his performance in the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) final. Watson was donning the RCB jersey at the time but had a poor all-round showing in the summit clash which eventually cost the franchise its first-ever title.&nbsp;

Speaking during an event at Presidency University in Bengaluru, Watson said he wanted to 'profusely' apologise for his performance on that fateful night.&nbsp;

“To all the RCB fans here tonight, I need to profusely apologise, I was prepared as well as I could," said Watson in the video clip going viral on social media.&nbsp;

"I was hoping to perform my very very best, but I had one of the worst performances when it comes to the bowling perspective in the final. And I most probably cost RCB winning that season,” he added.

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Shane Watson apologising for the 2016 final loss at a recent event in Presidency University 😭 
 
From Ig: bhuvanoyys <a href="https://t.co/BJ2XFwNrvD">pic.twitter.com/BJ2XFwNrvD</a>
— x 🧢 (@filter__coffee) <a href="https://twitter.com/filter__coffee/status/1792771319278579789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Watson's woeful performance</h2>

Bowling first, RCB could not contain the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) batters as Watson leaked 61 runs in his quota of four overs. It was perhaps the reason why SRH ended up with a mammoth 208 run total in the final.&nbsp;

During the chase, despite Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle providing a 114-run opening stand in 11 overs, RCB failed to chase down the total, falling short by an agonising margin of eight runs. Watson could not redeem himself with the bat either and departed after playing an attritional 9-ball 11-run knock.&nbsp;

The 2016 season is remembered for Kohli's scintillating form as the ex-RCB skipper broke all batting records by scoring 973 runs in 16 innings at an average of 81.08 and strike rate of 152.03. More impressively, Kohli smashed&nbsp;four centuries&nbsp;and seven fifties, whilst taking RCB single-handedly into the finals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-i-dont-want-rcbs-virat-kohli-on-what-next-for-team-after-entering-playoffs-723120">Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: 'I don’t want...,' RCB's Virat Kohli on what next for team after entering playoffs</a>

After an eight-year gap, RCB now have the opportunity to do the impossible yet again as they qualified for the playoffs after being on the brink of elimination. Having won their last six matches, RCB are in the Eliminator where they face out-of-form Rajasthan Royals.

While Watson may have failed in the 2016 final, he managed to be the star for Chennai Super Kings and guided the franchise to its first title after returning from a two-year ban in 2018. Watson smashed an unbeaten ton (117*) as CSK chased down the 179-run target against SRH.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson has apologised to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans for his performance in the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) final.

Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson has apologised to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans for his performance in the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) final. Watson was donning the RCB jersey at the time but had a poor all-round showing in the summit clash which eventually cost the franchise its first-ever title. Speaking during an event at Presidency University in Bengaluru, Watson said he wanted to 'profusely' apologise for his performance on that fateful night. “To all the RCB fans here tonight, I need to profusely apologise, I was prepared as well as I could," said Watson in the video clip going viral on social media. "I was hoping to perform my very very best, but I had one of the worst performances when it comes to the bowling perspective in the final. And I most probably cost RCB winning that season,” he added. Shane Watson apologising for the 2016 final loss at a recent event in Presidency University 😭 From Ig: bhuvanoyys pic.twitter.com/BJ2XFwNrvD — x 🧢 (@filter__coffee) May 21, 2024 × Watson's woeful performance Bowling first, RCB could not contain the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) batters as Watson leaked 61 runs in his quota of four overs. It was perhaps the reason why SRH ended up with a mammoth 208 run total in the final. During the chase, despite Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle providing a 114-run opening stand in 11 overs, RCB failed to chase down the total, falling short by an agonising margin of eight runs. Watson could not redeem himself with the bat either and departed after playing an attritional 9-ball 11-run knock. The 2016 season is remembered for Kohli's scintillating form as the ex-RCB skipper broke all batting records by scoring 973 runs in 16 innings at an average of 81.08 and strike rate of 152.03. More impressively, Kohli smashed four centuries and seven fifties, whilst taking RCB single-handedly into the finals. Also read | IPL 2024: 'I don’t want...,' RCB's Virat Kohli on what next for team after entering playoffs After an eight-year gap, RCB now have the opportunity to do the impossible yet again as they qualified for the playoffs after being on the brink of elimination. Having won their last six matches, RCB are in the Eliminator where they face out-of-form Rajasthan Royals. While Watson may have failed in the 2016 final, he managed to be the star for Chennai Super Kings and guided the franchise to its first title after returning from a two-year ban in 2018. Watson smashed an unbeaten ton (117*) as CSK chased down the 179-run target against SRH. (With inputs from agencies)

‘I was prepared...’: Shane Watson ‘profusely’ apologises to RCB fans - Watch

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli says that the team now got to focus on next match after winning a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday (May 18). The win, RCB's sixth on the trot, took them to the playoffs while CSK were ousted.

"God’s got a plan, you just have to be honest about what you are doing, and I think we were pretty honest with our hard work, and we got the rewards," Kohli said in a video posted by his team RCB. "I don’t want to say anything more than this. Got to focus on the next one," he added further.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-watch-t20-world-cup-bound-arshdeep-clean-bowls-travis-head-on-first-ball-in-pbks-vs-srh-723094">WATCH | T20 World Cup-bound Arshdeep clean bowls Travis Head on first ball in PBKS vs SRH</a>

RCB had to win by a margin of 18 runs or more after winning the toss and electing to bat first at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB fans had their heart in mouth when rain arrived shortly after the start of match but it receded quickly and the match was eventually completed without any loss of overs.

Needing 17 runs to qualify in the last over, RCB's Yash Dayal was hit for a six on the first ball of the over by MS Dhoni but gave just one run in the next five balls, taking his team home. The over was somewhat redemption for Dayal who had given five sixes on last five balls of the match last year against KKR's Rinku Singh.

With the win, RCB, Delhi Capitals and CSK all finished with 14 points but RCB went ahead in the playoffs on the basis of a better net run rate. Kohli played an important role for them with the bat, scoring 708 runs in 14 league games - the most for any player.

RCB will now play against the third placed team in the first eliminator on May 22 in Ahmedabad.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli says that the team now got to focus on next match after winning a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday (May 18).

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli says that the team now got to focus on next match after winning a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday (May 18). The win, RCB's sixth on the trot, took them to the playoffs while CSK were ousted. "God’s got a plan, you just have to be honest about what you are doing, and I think we were pretty honest with our hard work, and we got the rewards," Kohli said in a video posted by his team RCB. "I don’t want to say anything more than this. Got to focus on the next one," he added further. Also Read: WATCH | T20 World Cup-bound Arshdeep clean bowls Travis Head on first ball in PBKS vs SRH RCB had to win by a margin of 18 runs or more after winning the toss and electing to bat first at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB fans had their heart in mouth when rain arrived shortly after the start of match but it receded quickly and the match was eventually completed without any loss of overs. Needing 17 runs to qualify in the last over, RCB's Yash Dayal was hit for a six on the first ball of the over by MS Dhoni but gave just one run in the next five balls, taking his team home. The over was somewhat redemption for Dayal who had given five sixes on last five balls of the match last year against KKR's Rinku Singh. With the win, RCB, Delhi Capitals and CSK all finished with 14 points but RCB went ahead in the playoffs on the basis of a better net run rate. Kohli played an important role for them with the bat, scoring 708 runs in 14 league games - the most for any player. RCB will now play against the third placed team in the first eliminator on May 22 in Ahmedabad.

IPL 2024: 'I don’t want...,' RCB's Virat Kohli on what next for team after entering playoffs

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

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

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

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