Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane credits his success in IPL and domestic T20s to playing fearless yet composed cricket. He emphasizes staying calm, improving, and enjoying the game while leading KKR in the upcoming season. Rahane applauds India's victory in the Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia.
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Rishabh Pant, the most expensive player in IPL history, faces a crucial season for his international limited-overs career. Despite his Test cricket success, Pant struggles to secure a firm spot in India's white-ball teams, and his performance in this IPL season will be pivotal.
Travis Head's magnificent century shifted the momentum of the third Test at the Gabba in Australia's favor. His blistering innings of 100, punctuated by 13 fours, countered India's initially tight bowling.
Delhi Capitals' left-arm medium-pacer T Natarajan faces challenges in the upcoming IPL season due to limited recent playtime and high price-tag pressure. Despite this, he leverages his experience and is optimistic about regaining form under the guidance of head coach Hemang Badani and learning from teammate Mitchell Starc.
Chennai Super Kings, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, are gearing up for IPL 2025 with the goal of clinching their sixth title. After a lackluster 2024 season under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK hopes to bounce back, leveraging their strong batting lineup and balanced bowling attack. CSK's dominance can be attributed to the legendary Dhoni, under whose captaincy the team has secured five titles, reached the final ten times, and advanced to the playoffs on 12 occasions.
In the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur and Renuka Singh, Smriti Mandhana leads the Indian women's cricket team in their first bilateral series against Ireland. India looks to maintain their winning streak after recent victories against the West Indies, with notable performances expected from Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal, and Jemimah Rodrigues.
New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra was chosen as the Player of the Tournament at the 2025 Champions Trophy for his staggering record in the eight-team tournament. Ex India spinner R Ashwin disagreed with the choice, despite Ravindra's twin centuries in the four matches he played for the Black Caps.
Virat Kohli's 84 runs played a crucial role in India's semifinal victory against Australia in the Champions Trophy. Despite falling short of his century, Kohli's partnerships with Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and KL Rahul led India to chase down the target. Hardik Pandya's late sixes ensured India avoided a nervous finish.
Sunrisers Hyderabad lead the IPL 2025 points table with a 44-run win over Rajasthan Royals, thanks to Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 106. Chennai Super Kings secure a close win over Mumbai Indians. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, also victorious in their opening match, sit in second place. Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals face heavy defeats, occupying the bottom spots.
England's vice-captain cites smog in Kolkata as a significant challenge in reading Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who played a key role in their defeat by taking three wickets. He expects clearer conditions in Chennai for the second T20I, hoping that England can throw a punch back to level the five-match series.
England have announced a strong playing XI for the opening T20I match against India in Kolkata, led by experienced captain Jos Buttler. The squad features a mix of seasoned players and all-rounders, offering seven bowling options. Phil Salt and Ben Duckett are set to open, with Harry Brook serving as vice-captain.