Author: Raghav Mutdeyja

Punjab Kings (PBKS) fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is unlikely to take any further part in IPL 2025 due to what has been described as a “pretty serious injury,” according to the team’s fast-bowling coach James Hopes. Ferguson suffered the injury during PBKS’ recent match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday. He bowled just two deliveries before pulling up in pain, clutching the area just below his left hip. After a brief on-field assessment with the physio, he was forced to leave the field and did not return. “Ferguson is out indefinitely, and the chances of us getting him back by…

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The ICC is exploring a possible change to the current two-ball rule in One Day Internationals (ODIs), aiming to better balance the contest between bat and ball. A proposal, discussed during the recent ICC meetings in Harare, suggests that ODIs should revert to using a single ball from the 35th over of each innings. As things stand, ODIs are played with two new balls—one from each end—throughout the innings. The new recommendation, put forward by the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee chaired by Sourav Ganguly, would see teams continue using two balls for the first 34 overs. After that point, the…

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As Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) prepare to face Punjab Kings (PBKS), the two sides head into the contest on vastly different trajectories. PBKS have won three of their four matches, riding high on explosive batting performances, while SRH have slumped to four consecutive defeats and are desperate to halt their slide. PBKS have emerged as one of the most dynamic batting units this season, trailing only Lucknow Super Giants in scoring rate. Their top-order has fired consistently, with a different match-winner emerging in each victory. Priyansh Arya has taken the tournament by storm, supported by impactful cameos from Shashank Singh and…

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James Anderson is set to be knighted in recognition of his exceptional 21-year career with England, after being named in former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list. The 42-year-old fast bowler retired from international cricket last year, ending his Test career with a national record of 704 wickets in 188 matches—the most by any fast bowler in history and second overall behind Sachin Tendulkar in Test appearances. Anderson’s final match for England came at Lord’s against the West Indies in July 2024, two decades after he made his debut at the same venue in 2003. While he hasn’t…

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MS Dhoni’s return as captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) saw an early flashpoint after his LBW dismissal against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) raised questions about the Decision Review System (DRS) process. Facing Sunil Narine, Dhoni was struck on the front pad by a delivery that turned in sharply after pitching outside off. Umpire Chris Gaffaney gave him out on the field, and Dhoni immediately opted for a review. During the review, third umpire Vinod Seshan closely examined the UltraEdge visuals, which showed a faint murmur as the ball passed the inside edge of the bat. However, there was no…

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South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma has suffered a recurrence of an elbow injury and has been ruled out of the domestic first-class final, just over two months before the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June. Bavuma was expected to join the Lions squad on Tuesday ahead of their clash against the Titans in Johannesburg, but he never made the trip from Cape Town. The Lions were only informed late on Wednesday that he would not be available due to the injury. The setback affects Bavuma’s left elbow — the same one he has injured in the past. At…

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Punjab Kings (PBKS) allrounder Glenn Maxwell has been fined 25% of his match fee and received one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during PBKS’ home fixture against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Tuesday. Although the IPL has not revealed specific details of the incident, a statement confirmed that Maxwell admitted to a Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 — “abuse of fixtures and fittings during the match” — and accepted the match referee’s sanction. Maxwell, who came in to bat at No. 6 after PBKS chose to bat first, was dismissed by R Ashwin, caught and…

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As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) gear up for their second home game of IPL 2025 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, they do so with growing confidence despite the challenge of facing the unbeaten Delhi Capitals (DC). Both teams have three wins under their belt, but DC remain the only side yet to taste defeat. RCB’s solid start to the season mirrors their strong early runs in previous editions – they’ve won at least three of their first four games in three of the past five seasons. Yet, only in 2022 did they come close to a top-two finish, falling short…

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Delhi Capitals assistant coach Matthew Mott has praised Axar Patel for his inclusive and collaborative leadership style, saying the new skipper ensures everyone feels involved and heard within the team environment. Despite limited captaincy experience prior to the IPL – having led Gujarat just 23 times and DC once last year – Axar has made an unbeaten start to his full-time leadership stint, guiding DC to three straight wins and the top of the table. “He’s been outstanding,” Mott said ahead of DC’s clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. “I didn’t know him much before this tournament, but he’s got a…

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Jitesh Sharma has attributed his T20 resurgence to Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor Dinesh Karthik, who has been working closely with him to evolve into a complete 360-degree batter. “It’s been a fantastic journey so far, especially because of the hard work I put in with him during the off-season,” Jitesh said. “Most of the shots I’m playing now are replicas of what DK used to play. He’s helping build a new version of me, someone who can play all around the wicket. I’m thoroughly enjoying this new role.” One of the biggest breakthroughs for Jitesh has been the confidence to…

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