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.
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Cricket West Indies (CWI) has appealed to the ICC to ensure Caribbean nations have a fair chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. With cricket returning to the Games, CWI fears that individual Caribbean nations might be excluded if qualification relies solely on world rankings.
Mumbai's Ayush Mhatre, 17, will captain the India Under-19 team for their England tour, joined by Bihar's 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Both impressed in their IPL debuts. Abhigyan Kundu from Mumbai is the vice-captain. Mhatre's leadership skills have been praised, drawing comparisons to Prithvi Shaw. The tour includes One-Day matches and Multi-Day games against England Under-19, starting June 24.
Ravi Shastri disclosed his discussion with Virat Kohli before Kohli's unexpected Test retirement. Kohli, India's fourth-highest Test run-scorer, retired despite an upcoming series against England. Shastri and Kohli discussed the decision a week prior. Shastri acknowledged Kohli's intense approach and global impact. He emphasized Kohli's achievements, stating Kohli had nothing left to achieve in his career.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming affirmed the franchise's commitment to experienced players despite a disappointing IPL 2025 season. Fleming acknowledged the team's struggles and the need to reassess strategies while emphasizing the importance of balancing experience with emerging talent. He dismissed the notion of solely focusing on young players, highlighting the value of seasoned performers.
Astrologer Greenstone Lobo attributes recent retirements in Indian cricket to cosmic shifts. He says the planetary alignment that fueled the greatness of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin has weakened. Lobo suggests KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are astrologically primed to take over. He also mentions Rajat Patidar as a potential surprise package.
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.
Gujarat Titans have signed Kusal Mendis as a replacement for Jos Buttler, who will depart on May 26, 2025, for national duties. Mendis, acquired for Rs 75 Lakh, brings international experience after a stint in the Pakistan Super League 2025. Buttler's exit leaves a void despite GT's strong position atop the IPL standings, having won eight of eleven matches.
KL Rahul's brief innings of 11 runs against Mumbai Indians contrasted sharply with his century in the previous outing against Gujarat Titans. Despite the early dismissal, caught by Ryan Rickelton off Trent Boult, Rahul has amassed 504 runs this IPL season, averaging 56.00 with a strike rate of 148.67.
Hrishikesh Kanitkar has been appointed as the head coach for the India A team's England tour, commencing on May 30. Rajib Dutta will serve as the bowling coach, and Joydeep Bhattacharya as the fielding coach. Abhimanyu Easwaran will captain the side in three matches, including two against England Lions and one against the senior India squad.
Nehal Wadhera credited clear communication with the captain and coach for Punjab Kings' consistent 200-plus scores in IPL 2025, following their 219/5 against Rajasthan Royals. Wadhera's career-best 70* and Shashank Singh's 59* propelled PBKS after an initial slump. The IPL 2025 season, interrupted by cross-border tensions, will resume on May 17, with the final on June 3, across six venues.