Author: Raghav Mutdeyja

Former India pacer Varun Aaron believes Punjab Kings (PBKS) are showing “real confidence” this season, thanks to a strong system established by head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer. He also highlighted the significant contributions of Indian players in PBKS’ two wins so far. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, Aaron praised the clear vision set by Ponting and Iyer, both of whom have led IPL-winning teams in the past. “The whole campaign started with Ricky Ponting making it clear that this is his team and he would approach things his way, without any external interference,” Aaron said. “When…

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Fast bowler Akash Deep is set to link up with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) squad on Wednesday and is expected to be available for their upcoming match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday. Akash has been out of action since December 2024 due to a lower back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. He is yet to make his debut for LSG, having last played T20 cricket in IPL 2024, where he featured in a single match for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against MI at the Wankhede Stadium. Since his IPL debut in 2022, he has played…

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India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has decided to switch teams for the upcoming domestic season, moving from Mumbai to Goa. The move came as a surprise to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), which promptly issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) after receiving Jaiswal’s transfer request. Goa Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Shambu Desai confirmed that it was GCA that initiated contact with Jaiswal. “We are building a strong squad for Goa and wanted to bring in top talent, which is why we approached him recently,” Desai told ESPNcricinfo. Jaiswal, 23, has been a key player for Mumbai since his Under-19 days. Since making…

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Sanju Samson has been given the green light by the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to resume wicketkeeping duties for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2025. After recovering from finger surgery last month, Samson will also reclaim the captaincy from Riyan Parag, who led RR in their first three matches this season. During Samson’s absence, he played solely as a batter while Parag took over as skipper and Dhruv Jurel kept wickets. RR lost their first two matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) before securing a victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Guwahati on March…

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Hardik Pandya is set to make his IPL 2025 debut in a highly anticipated clash as Mumbai Indians (MI) take on Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad — a venue packed with history and emotion for the MI skipper. Last season, Hardik faced a hostile reception from fans at this very ground after switching from GT, a franchise he led to the 2022 IPL title and back-to-back finals, to MI. Now, he returns not only as MI’s leader but as a two-time ICC title winner with India, bringing added experience and stability to an MI side…

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As Hardik Pandya prepares to lead Mumbai Indians (MI) for the first time in IPL 2025, head coach Mahela Jayawardene has backed the all-rounder to move past the challenges of last season, when MI’s campaign was marred by crowd hostility and a last-place finish. Since then, Hardik has enjoyed a strong run with the Indian team, winning two ICC titles, including the T20 World Cup in June 2024. Jayawardene believes that the fans will now look past the events of the previous season and focus on the cricket. “It’s just a game of cricket. Fans are passionate and emotions run…

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Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has been discharged from the hospital and is now recovering at home, just days after suffering a heart attack. Tamim underwent angioplasty on Monday and will continue to be monitored by medical specialists in the coming weeks. The incident occurred while Tamim was captaining Mohammedan Sporting Club in a Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match against Shinepukur Cricket Club at the BKSP ground. He began to feel unwell shortly after the toss and was initially taken to the KPJ Specialised Hospital and Nursing Home (formerly Fazilatunnesa Hospital) in Savar for tests. He was then airlifted…

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Ambati Rayudu believes the intense fan focus on MS Dhoni at Chepauk, while understandable, can sometimes overshadow the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team as a whole and create pressure for other players. While Chennai’s crowd is often hailed as one of the most knowledgeable and passionate in the country, their loyalty leans heavily towards Dhoni. At CSK games, the atmosphere shifts dramatically every time a wicket falls, with the crowd visibly and vocally anticipating Dhoni’s arrival at the crease—almost reminiscent of the Sachin Tendulkar era in Indian Test cricket, when the fall of the second wicket meant one thing: the…

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Kane Williamson believes Abhishek Sharma’s success in T20 cricket stems from his unique ability to generate power through timing and technique rather than sheer strength. The former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain, who has seen Abhishek’s evolution up close, praised the young batter’s versatility and maturity. “He has a beautiful bat swing and is a natural timer of the ball,” Williamson told ESPNcricinfo. “He has that gift of power, but it’s not about brute force. It’s about timing and the ability to hit all around the ground—almost like a superpower. It reminds me a bit of Heinrich Klaasen—different in style, but…

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Even with Avesh Khan’s return, Lucknow’s bowling still lacks firepower Last year in Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were left stunned as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) chased down 167 with all ten wickets intact and more than 10 overs to spare. It sparked conversations about franchise dynamics and captain-owner relationships, although no real rivalry brewed from it. But LSG will certainly be eager to set the record straight when the two teams meet again—at the same venue—on Thursday. Much has changed since. LSG now have a new captain in Rishabh Pant, bought for a record INR 27 crore, and a refreshed…

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