The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has onboarded New Zealand's veteran pacer Tim Southee as Specialist Skills Consultant for the English men's cricket team. Southee, New Zealand's highest international wicket-taker, will support England across all formats until the end of the Test series against India. He will commence his role with the Test squad before their match against Zimbabwe.
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Lucknow Super Giants, already out of playoff contention, defeated Gujarat Titans by 33 runs, fueled by Mitchell Marsh's explosive century and Nicholas Pooran's quickfire half-century. Despite a strong middle-order response from Gujarat, they fell short of the imposing 235-run target, and a top two finish now hangs in the balance.
Punjab Kings secured a dramatic victory against Rajasthan Royals, overcoming a blistering start from the opposition's openers. Harpreet Brar's crucial wickets shifted the momentum, while disciplined bowling in the death overs sealed the win. With this triumph, Punjab moves closer to the IPL playoffs, showcasing resilience and a strong team spirit.
With 8 games remaining in the league stage, CSK, RR, SRH, KKR and LSG are already out of contention for the playoffs. GT, RCB and PBKS are sure to make the playoffs, while MI and DC contend for a spot with tonight's match between them a must-win for DC. There remain 256 possible combinations of results, so nothing is for sure yet in terms of who finishes where at the end of the league. We look at the probabilities:
Following Sunrisers Hyderabad's dominant victory over Lucknow Super Giants, captain Pat Cummins shared a heartwarming moment by playfully carrying a cardboard cut-out of Mitchell Marsh onto the team bus. Despite their on-field rivalry, the gesture highlighted the strong bond between the Australian cricketers. SRH's win, fueled by explosive batting, kept their playoff hopes alive while ending LSG's chances.
During Friday's IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Krunal Pandya suffered an unfortunate dismissal. He became the 17th batter in IPL history, and second this season after Abhinav Manohar, to be out hit wicket.
With Virat Kohli's Test retirement, Team India faces the daunting task of filling the crucial number 4 batting position. Michael Atherton expresses concern about finding a suitable replacement after decades of dominance by Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. While names like KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are being thrown in the air, who will be India's pick for the England tour?
Mitchell Starc will not participate in the remainder of the IPL 2025, informing Delhi Capitals of his decision. As the team resumes practice, they anticipate the arrival of Faf du Plessis, Tristan Stubbs, and mentor Kevin Pietersen. With several players unavailable due to international duties, franchises are making temporary replacements, including Delhi Capitals signing Mustafizur Rahman.
Ben Stokes acknowledges India's formidable batting depth despite the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of the five-Test series. Stokes highlighted Kohli's fighting spirit and competitiveness, noting his signature cover drive. He anticipates a challenging summer and expresses excitement about his return from injury, emphasizing the hard work put into his recovery.
Jadeja, at 36 years of age, will be one of India's most experienced players going into the England series. Will the CSK man be named captain or not is a question yet to be answered. However, his message of gratitude on Instagram has sparked discussion and debate on whether the record-holder in tests deserves control of the team.
Mumbai Indians secured the final IPL playoff spot, defeating Delhi Capitals in a crucial match. They join Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings in the knockouts, marking their 11th playoff appearance. With this victory, MI reached 16 points, eliminating DC from contention, while the battle for the top-two positions intensifies among GT, RCB, and PBKS.