AB de Villiers believes Patidar’s biggest challenge will be handling the “insecurity” of stepping into the shoes of past RCB captains like Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli. Virat Kohli has expressed strong support for Rajat Patidar, the newly appointed captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), believing that he has the potential to lead the team for a long time. Patidar, one of RCB’s key retentions ahead of last November’s mega auction, was announced as Faf du Plessis’ successor last month. “He [Patidar] is an incredible talent,” Kohli said at the RCB Unbox event in Bengaluru, where the team’s 2025…
Author: Raghav Mutdeyja
Big Picture: Pakistan Seek Redemption As the T20I series moves from Christchurch to Dunedin, Pakistan’s batting remains the focal point. New captain Salman Agha had called for a “high-risk” approach, but the execution fell short in the opening game, where Pakistan registered a dismal 91 all-out. New Zealand comfortably chased the target in just 10.1 overs, exposing Pakistan’s struggles. With Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam dropped, and Saim Ayub still recovering from an ankle injury, Pakistan experimented with debutant Hasan Nawaz at the top, alongside Mohammad Haris, who was returning to T20Is after nearly two years. Salman slotted in at…
Pakistan allrounder Aamer Jamal has been fined over a million rupees (approximately USD 4,000) for displaying a slogan in support of former Prime Minister and ex-Pakistan cricket captain, Imran Khan. During a Pakistan training session in December last year, ahead of the home Test series against England, Jamal was spotted with “804” written on the underside of his floppy hat. The number represents Imran Khan’s prisoner identification, as he has been incarcerated since August 2023 while facing multiple corruption-related charges, which he claims are politically motivated. The number has become a symbol of support among his followers and has been…
Delhi Capitals’ Harry Brook withdrew from IPL for a second consecutive season for non-injury reasons Former England allrounder Moeen Ali believes that the possibility of Harry Brook facing a two-year ban from the IPL for pulling out after being signed at the auction is justified. Under the IPL’s revised regulations, Brook will be ineligible to participate in the tournament or enter the auction until 2027. Currently, the only exception to this rule applies to players who miss a season due to a verified injury or medical condition, as confirmed by their home board. When asked about the potential ban on…
Fined 50% of Match Fees and Given Three Demerit Points Pakistan allrounder Khushdil Shah has been penalized for violating the ICC Code of Conduct during the first T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch. As a result, he has been fined 50% of his match fees and received three demerit points. This marks his first offense in a 24-month period. The incident occurred in the eighth over of Pakistan’s innings when Khushdil struck the third delivery from Foulkes past mid-on. While running, he collided with the bowler—who had his back turned—making contact with his left shoulder. The on-field umpire addressed the…
England Fast Bowler Set to Miss India Test Series but Aims for Ashes Return Mark Wood will be out of action for four months after undergoing surgery on his left knee, ruling him out of England’s upcoming Test series against India while keeping him in contention for the Ashes later this year. The 35-year-old had surgery in London on Wednesday after scans revealed medial ligament damage sustained during England’s Champions Trophy group-stage loss to Afghanistan in Lahore last month. Wood was forced to leave the field during his fourth over due to “locking” in his knee. Although he briefly returned,…
Match Fees Expected to Return to PKR 40,000 Per Game Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has directed a review of the recent decision to reduce match fees for players and reserves participating in the National T20 Cup. It is now expected that the match fees will be restored to the previous edition’s rate of PKR 40,000 per game for players and PKR 20,000 for reserves. Initially, the fees had been cut by 75%—dropping to PKR 10,000 (approximately USD 35) for players and PKR 5,000 for reserves. However, even the restored amount remains lower than the 2022 rate, when…
Sodhi Returns to T20I Squad with Focus on India’s Spin-Friendly Conditions Uncontracted players James Neesham, Finn Allen, and Tim Seifert remain firmly in New Zealand’s plans for the 2026 T20 World Cup, having committed to participating in all of the Black Caps’ T20 series leading up to the tournament, according to selection manager Sam Wells. All three players recently featured in the 50-over Ford Trophy before being recalled for New Zealand’s upcoming five-match T20I series against Pakistan. “We’ve had discussions with these guys, and New Zealand Cricket has emphasized the importance of preparing well for major tournaments. They have committed…
South Africa Likely to Play First Two T20Is in August Darwin is on the brink of hosting international cricket for the first time since 2008, with Cricket Australia planning two T20Is against South Africa in August. An official announcement on the winter series schedule is expected later this month. South Africa’s tour will include three T20Is and three ODIs, with the tentative plan placing the first two T20Is in Darwin. Cairns is set to host one T20I and an ODI, while Mackay is expected to stage the final two ODIs. The schedule is yet to be fully confirmed, with the…
MI Eye Direct Final Spot, RCB Seek to End on a High Mumbai Indians (MI) came close to securing a direct entry into the WPL 2025 final on Monday but fell short after Gujarat Giants managed to cross the 156-run mark. However, MI still clinched victory and maintained their unbeaten record at the Brabourne Stadium. Now, they have another chance to finish at the top of the table, as they stand level on points with Delhi Capitals. Their key concern—if any—would be the tight turnaround, with this match scheduled within 24 hours of their previous outing. While shifting Amelia Kerr…