As the IPL 2025 approaches, anticipation builds not just for the games but for the intense rivalries and heated moments. Memorable incidents include Harbhajan Singh’s slap to Sreesanth, Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir’s clashes, Kieron Pollard’s bat toss, MS Dhoni’s pitch invasion, and David Warner’s confrontation with the umpire, highlighting the passion and pressure in the tournament.
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Australian team, led by Captain Steve Smith, is keenly focused on the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy as they face Sri Lanka in two ODIs. These matches, taking place in Colombo, serve as the final preparation for the tournament starting February 19. Sri Lanka aim to rebuild after missing out on the Champions Trophy.
India's Rishabh Pant adopted a cautious approach on the first day of the fifth Test against Australia due to the challenging SCG pitch, scoring 40 off 98 balls. Pant is striving for a balance between aggression and defence, acknowledging the mental challenges during rough patches. Australian debutant Beau Webster concurred on the pitch's demanding nature.
Veteran umpires S Ravi and CK Nandan will mentor them. Michael Gough, Chris Gaffaney and Adrian Holdstock are the three international umpires part of IPL 2025. Notable absentees include Kumar Dharmasena and Anil Chaudhary.
MS Dhoni, at 43, is showing he can still compete at the highest level ahead of the IPL 2025 season with the Chennai Super Kings. During training, he showcased his classic skills, including his famous 'Helicopter shot', impressing with a strike rate of 220.55 last season despite knee issues.
As the Paarl Royals gear up for the 2025 SA20 season, they aim to capture their maiden title. The team has strengthened their squad with international stars like Dinesh Karthik and Joe Root, despite Jos Buttler's absence. Under David Miller's leadership, the Royals are set to face Sunrisers Eastern Cape in their opening match.
Riyan Parag's debut as captain for Rajasthan Royals saw his team lose two consecutive matches in IPL 2025. Parag has already become the first player from Assam to lead an IPL team. Regular captain Sanju Samson is expected to return on April 5. Despite his efforts, the Royals recorded significant defeats against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Australia chief selector George Bailey is optimistic that Cameron Green will play as a batsman in the World Test Championship final against South Africa. Green, recovering from back surgery, is expected to return to batting by May. Mitchell Marsh was dropped for the Sri Lanka series, but Bailey remains hopeful about his future contributions.
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.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape triumphed over Paarl Royals with a 48-run win in the SA20 clash. SEC, opting to bat, posted 148/8, driven by Jordan Hermann's 53, despite a top-order collapse. Paarl's chase crumbled, reaching only 100 due to Craig Overton and Marco Jansen's fierce bowling. This victory boosts SEC ahead of their upcoming Eliminator match.
Durban's Super Giants spinner Prenelan Subrayen stresses learning from their 28-run loss to Joburg Super Kings despite Quinton de Kock’s efforts. The Kingsmead pitch and recent rain weren't blamed. Emphasis was placed on avoiding extras and improving ahead in the SA20 season, aiming to regroup and rebuild.