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Shardul Thakur has seen it all in the last couple of years. The long period out because of injury in 2024 hadn’t helped either as he not only lost his place in the Indian set up, he even went unsold in the IPL auction. But he never gave up. “I felt bad when I wasn’t picked for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India’s tour of Australia).

Delhi Capitals registered a thrilling one-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants in their first match of IPL 2025 at Vishakhapatnam and will look to carry the momentum when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday. In the first match, DC were reduced to 113/6 in the 13th over while chasing a challenging target of 210. However, debutant Vipraj Nigam, along with Ashutosh Sharma, stitched a vital 55-run partnership for the seventh wicket to turn the game in their favour. Reflecting on his match-winning partnership with Ashutosh Sharma, Nigam, who made quickfire 39 off 15 balls, said, «My job was to make things easy for Ashutosh. I was able to hit some shots which gave him more time to settle,» as quoted from a release by Delhi Capitals. «We both have played a lot of practice games together and have had some drills in the nets as well. Our plan was to try and replicate what we have been doing in the practice sessions. We did that, and fortunately, it worked for us,» the 20-year-old added while addressing media in a pre-match press conference. The young allrounder also thanked Delhi Capitals management for the opportunity and talked on the importance of maintaining a balance between batting and bowling as an all-rounder.

Rohit Sharma says the Indian team has endured cricket's vicissitudes in the last nine months but it waged a collective battle to achieve success and every member of the side that competed in the last three ICC tournaments deserves «respect». In their last three ICC limited-overs tournaments, India have lost only one out of 24 matches, with the defeat coming against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad. The India team recently won the ICC Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup in Barbados last year. In between India lost a rare home Test series against New Zealand and away in Australia. Reflecting on his remarkable tenure as India captain, Rohit said: «Look at what this team has achieved in this big three tournaments. After playing the tournament like that and getting defeated only once and that too in a final (2023 ODI World Cup).»

Joe Root has advocated for consistency to counter India in the upcoming five-Test series, saying «there's no hiding place» when it comes to facing such an indomitable opponent. India will commence their their 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle in England with the opening match scheduled at Headingley from June 20. Root, who surpassed Alastair Cook as England's all-time highest Test run-getter last year, is gearing up for the challenge following an impressive showing in the Champions Trophy recently. «We are good in our own conditions but with India coming over for a five-match series there's no hiding place. It's a long old slog, you've got to be consistent. You've got to put in those match-winning performances time and time again,» the former England skipper told Sky Sports. Root, 34, led the England Test team from 2017 to 2022, recording 27 victories in 64 matches — the most by any captain from the country. However, a difficult period in 2021, where the team won just one of 17 matches and suffered an Ashes debacle Down Under, led to his decision to step down from the role.

Stephen Fleming stoutly countered the criticism that his team's brand of cricket was getting outdated, saying the team had enough «firepower» and no one should make the mistake of discounting them. Five-time IPL champions CSK lost to RCB by 50 runs, unable to chase a steep 196/7 set by Rajat Patidar's side on Friday. CSK's defeat to RCB in the 'Southern Derby' in their own den was their first since the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 and it was also their biggest reversal at home thus far. In response to a question if his brand of cricket was getting outdated, the former New Zealand skipper shot back, «What do you mean, my way of playing (cricket)? Like winning the first game, that's a good way to play. We've got firepower all the way through. I don't understand this question.» «Just because we don't swing (the bat) from ball one and have a little bit of luck go our way, we'll see at the end,» said the New Zealander after his team was restricted to 146/8 in 20 overs. The 51-year-added that CSK should not be «discounted» just because they had lost one match.

Krafton has acquired a controlling stake in Pune-based Nautilus Mobile, the studio behind the popular Real Cricket franchise, in a deal worth Rs 118 crore. This marks Krafton’s first control deal in India, signalling its focus on local game development here. Founded in 2013, Nautilus Mobile was acquired by JetSynthesys in 2020. Subsequently, Krafton made a Rs 40.5 crore investment in 2022. The latest acquisition gives Krafton a larger stake in India’s gaming landscape, integrating Nautilus Mobile’s expertise with its global resources and technology.

Kavya Maran, the CEO and co-owner of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has become one of the most recognizable faces in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Born on August 6, 1992, in Chennai, Kavya Maran belongs to the influential Maran family, known for its massive business empire. Her father, Kalanithi Maran, is the chairman and managing director of Sun Group, one of India's largest media conglomerates, with a reported net worth of $2.3 billion, according to Forbes. Her mother, Kavery Maran, serves as the CEO of Sun TV Network and is regarded as one of India's highest-paid female executives. Apart from business, the family also has a strong political presence, with her uncle Dayanidhi Maran being an active leader in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party.

Taking to his Instagram account, he shared that a source has revealed that a key point of contention arose when Dhanashree insisted that Chahal relocate from his hometown in Haryana to Mumbai, the financial capital of India. According to him, the couple, known for their presence in both cricket and entertainment circles, struggled to find common ground due to their starkly different personalities. While they had initially settled in Haryana with Chahal’s parents, they would visit Mumbai only when necessary. However, tensions escalated when Dhanashree firmly demanded a permanent move to Mumbai, a request that reportedly took Chahal by surprise. He added that the leg-spinner, deeply rooted in his family home and environment, found the demand unreasonable. Despite discussions and attempts to reach a middle ground, the disagreement led to heated arguments and an eventual rift. He stated that Chahal remained firm in his decision, unwilling to uproot himself from his parents’ home and the life he had built in Haryana. As per him, ultimately, this ongoing dispute over relocating is said to have played a significant role in the couple’s separation, marking the end of a relationship that had long been in the public eye.

Punjab Kings and their new skipper Shreyas Iyer, who anchored the team's batting and and missed his maiden IPL ton by just three runs against Gujarat Titans. Giving a dream start to the franchise in red in their IPL 2025 opener, Iyer smashed 97 runs to set 244 as target for the Shubman Gill-led team to chase. Iyer, the champion captain of IPL 2024, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to their second title win, hit five FOURs and nine SIXES, covering the Narendra Modi stadium 360 degrees. His knock is a carry-forward of his brilliant form he has carried right from domestic cricket to Champions Trophy. Shashank Singh's cameo knock of 44 runs added valued runs to the scorecard and the batsman smashed five boundaries in the final over, keeping the Kings' skipper on the non-striker's end. In an interview post his innings, Singh revealed that Iyer was clear that he doesn't want any batsman to care about his possible century but simply make runs for the team.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Bengaluru: Vikas, 24, who does not wish to reveal his full name, was looking for extra income when he discovered the Probo app through a YouTube influencer last year. A final year MBA student in Jaipur, Vikas was intrigued by the prospect of making money by predicting stock trends and outcomes of cricket matches.

«Everything is a wide, no, 4 or 6 #IPL should just replace bowlers with bowling-machines,» said the Shark Tank judge in a post on X. The 18th edition of the IPL, the 2025 season, began on March 22 and will conclude on May 25. The tournament opened with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. A total of 74 matches will be played across various cities in India. The T20 league, first held in 2008, became one of the biggest sporting events and the most lucrative competition in the world, with a brand value of $12 billion, according to a report.

MS Dhoni has expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support he has received from Indian Premier League (IPL) fans over the years. Speaking on JioHotstar, he shared, “It's a big thank you to all my fans.” Dhoni acknowledged the appreciation shown by fans and reflected on how it feels to play in front of such dedicated supporters. He said, “Last few years I've been in, and I will be playing.

IPL 2025 season is in full swing, with a total of 74 matches set to be played, including 70 group-stage games across 13 venues in India. Cricket fans are in for an exciting tournament as teams battle it out for a spot in the playoffs. So far, five matches have already taken place, and the competition has lived up to its billing.

Chennai Super Kings despite handing over captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad, the talismanic Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he is instead focussed on reinventing himself and his strokes to «stay relevant» in the IPL. Speaking to 'JioStar' after CSK's four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in their lung-opener on Sunday night here, Dhoni spoke about the team dynamics under Gaikwad, his own form and also the regional commentary being done in the ongoing league. "...batsmen are now willing to take risks. They believe that with proper cricketing shots, they can play big strokes, and at the same time, they are improvising with their shot selection...whether it's a reverse scoop against a fast bowler, a sweep, or a reverse sweep against a pacer. «I am no different, I have to adapt as well. This is what is required of me for where I am batting. You have to try and stay relevant,» Dhoni said. «The way we played T20 in 2008 and the way we played IPL last year, it's very different. Earlier, there was a lot of turn in the wickets. Wickets were two-paced. Now, India's wickets have become much better; they are more batter-friendly,» he explained. The 43-year-old, under whom CSK won five IPL titles, handed over the leadership to Gaikwad at the beginning of the 2024 season. He said although he discusses things with Gaikwad, he refrains from persuading him to follow his advice.

The 43-year-old player had stumped out Surya Kumar Yadav in 0.12 seconds, leaving cricket fans at the stadium and on social media in a frenzy. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and opted to bowl against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the battle of champions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the ongoing Indian Premier League on Sunday. Another chapter in the IPL's 'El Clasico' will unfold at Chepauk, with two of the most decorated sides in the cash-rich league squaring off against each other in a fierce contest. MI will be without its skipper, Hardik Pandya, and top pace gun, Jasprit Bumrah. In Pandya's absence, Suryakumar Yadav has taken the leadership role.

Dwayne Bravo has had the good fortune to establish connections with two of India's most prominent figures—Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli. Bravo, who transitioned to a coaching role with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after his IPL playing career, has consistently expressed his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan, as per a Times Entertainment report on March 22. Now, as part of the KKR organization, he has the opportunity to engage with the team’s dynamic co-owner on a more regular basis.

IPL has become stronger than ever and doesn't see any threat from the growing number of T20 leagues globally, its chairman Arun Dhumal said on Saturday as he steered clear of the speculation swirling around an event backed by Saudi Arabia. Speaking to PTI as the league enters its 18th edition, Dhumal said the BCCI supports the rise in number of T20 leagues globally, especially in unchartered territories like Saudi Arabia, Europe and the USA. He feels the growth will eventually help the game ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics where cricket will be played. «There is no point discussing something on the basis of speculation. There is nothing on the table for discussion with everyone (all stakeholders). And as far as my knowledge goes, there is no infrastructure as of now in Saudi Arabia that can cater to a tournament of this scale. »So, there is no point discussing speculative stories," said the IPL chairman. Plenty has been reported in international media about the oil-rich Saudi Arabia foraying into cricket over the last two years but nothing concrete has come out of those speculations. Having said that, Saudi Arabia has been a sponsor in the IPL and hosted the mega auction last year.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is bringing the IPL Fan Parks back for the 2025 season, expanding the electrifying experience to 50 cities across 23 states and one union territory. The IPL Fan Parks this season will span 10 weekends, from March 22 to May 25. From Tinsukia in Assam to Kochi in Kerala and Amritsar in Punjab to Goa, the initiative aims to recreate the stadium atmosphere for fans across India. Each Fan Park will feature live match screenings, music, entertainment, food courts, and a kids’ play zone. Fans can also enjoy virtual batting zones, bowling through nets, face-painting stations, replica dugouts, and 360° photo booths. The first Fan Parks of the season will be held in Rohtak, Bikaner, Gangtok, Kochi, and Coimbatore, with multiple locations hosting events every weekend. IPL Fan Parks will also debut in Kakinada, Dimapur, Karaikal, Manbhum, Purulia, Rohtak, and Tinsukia. Arun Singh Dhumal, Chairman, IPL, said: «The IPL Fan Parks are a crucial part of our vision to bring the tournament closer to fans across India. By hosting these events in multiple cities and towns, we aim to recreate the electrifying stadium atmosphere and allow fans to celebrate the IPL together. This initiative strengthens our bond with cricket enthusiasts nationwide, ensuring they experience the excitement and passion of the sport in a lively and vibrant setting.»

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Formula One cars snake around a racetrack track so blindingly fast that viewers need focal points — we need to know where to look, and to know what we’re looking for. F1 isn’t just a sport; it’s a high-octane obsession with perfection, where every bolt, every gear, every millisecond is tuned to scream excellence.

With a total watch time of approximately 250 billion minutes, including 137 billion minutes on Star Sports and 110 billion minutes on JioHotstar, the tournament’s success was driven by several matches to remember, particularly the grand finale between India and New Zealand on 9 March in Dubai. The final saw peak concurrent viewership reach 122 million on TV and 61 million on JioHotstar, setting a new benchmark for digital viewership in cricket. The final became the second highest-rated ODI in TV history outside of World Cup matches, drawing 230 million viewers and accumulating 53 billion minutes of watch-time across television and digital platforms. A key highlight of the tournament was the India-Pakistan league-stage clash in Dubai, which had the audience stuck to their seats and became one of the most-watched ODIs in India.

ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 has set new benchmarks in viewership, surpassing all previous multi-nation cricket tournaments in India, including the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The tournament witnessed a staggering 23% increase in TV ratings, reaffirming cricket’s dominance in the country’s sports landscape.