December 23, 2024
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Indian Premier League

IPL valuation rises to $16.4 billion in 2024, Chennai Super Kings remain most valued franchise: Report | Cricket News

IPL valuation rises to $16.4 billion in 2024, Chennai Super Kings remain most valued franchise: Report | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: The value of the Indian Premier League (IPL) increased by 6.5 per cent, reaching USD 16.4 billion (approximately Rs 1,34,858 crore) in 2024, as reported by American investment bank Houlihan Lokey.The brand value of the lucrative T20 league saw a 6.3 per cent rise, climbing to USD 3.4 billion (around Rs 28,000 crore) year-on-year.The increase in IPL’s value is driven by a significant title sponsorship agreement with Tata Group, spanning five years from 2024 to 2028, worth roughly USD 300 million (Rs 2,500 crore). The Tata Group is paying about 50 per cent more than the previous deal of Rs 335 crore per season.“This significant investment, coupled with last year’s massive media rights auction, underscores the IPL’s status as a pivotal platform for esteemed brands seeking to enhance their value,” the report highlighted.Beyond major events like the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and Cricket World Cup, the IPL is unique in its ability to engage over a billion people globally, extending its appeal beyond the Indian subcontinent.Brand value encompasses the monetary worth of intangible assets, including trade names and trademarks.Harsh Talikoti, Senior Vice President, Corporate Valuation Advisory Services, Houlihan Lokey, said “Today, the IPL commands widespread recognition, firmly entrenched as a household name with a robust brand recall among successive generations.” According to the report, IPL has been evaluated both as a legal business entity and as a brand. The assessment considered the standalone income and cash-generation potential of the IPL.The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) remain the most valued IPL franchise, while the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) experienced the highest annual growth.“There has been a significant increase in franchise revenue over the years, primarily driven by revenue from television rights, despite each team having sponsorship revenue ranging from USD 5-12 million. A major agreement was signed by Qatar Airways for around USD 9 million (Rs 75 crore) for a three-year contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru,” the report said.Ranking second in terms of brand and business value is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) with a worth of USD 227 million, followed by the Mumbai Indians (MI) with a brand value of USD 204 million.Rajasthan Royals (RR) secured the fifth position with a brand value of USD 133 million.“RR also had the majority of sponsors on their roster renewing their association, showcasing its attractiveness as one of the fastest-growing brands within the IPL ecosystem. These factors helped RR jump two places to the fifth spot,” it said.Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), with a brand value of USD 132 million, stands sixth on the list.“Having done exceptionally well at the auction and developing a new squad under the leadership of Pat Cummins, SRH managed to pick the stars of the recently concluded World Cup that contributed to the franchisees’ great performance,” the report said.Delhi Capitals, benefiting from the return of its captain and most marketable asset, Rishabh Pant, ranked seventh with a brand value of USD 131 million.The Gujarat Titans are ranked eighth with a brand value of USD 124 million. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings (PBKS) hold a brand value of USD 101 million, and Lucknow Super Giants have a brand value of USD 91.0 million, the report concluded.(With inputs from PTI)

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Dinesh Karthik thanks Simon Doull for spurring Virat Kohli on with strike-rate comment | Cricket News

Dinesh Karthik thanks Simon Doull for spurring Virat Kohli on with strike-rate comment | Cricket News

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Virat Kohli didn’t begin IPL 2024 with the kind of flair that is associated with his legendary status as a batsman, and the questions raised on his strike-rate turned out to be just the kind of fuel that was required to re-ignite his hunger, which eventually won him the Orange Cap as the tournament’s top run-getter. Kohli’s teammate at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Indian team, wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has seen from up close Kohli’s evolution into one of the most iconic figures in world cricket. Talking about it on Cricbuzz, and how Kohli turned it around to end up scoring 741 runs in IPL 2014, Karthik said Kohli always thrives on situations where he has to prove people wrong, like in the case when former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull and some of the other cricket experts had questioned Kohli’s strike-rate during the initial part of just-concluded IPL season. “Virat Kohli – well, I can write a book on how he was this year (IPL 2024),” said Karthik. “He started okay, but I think thanks to people like Simon and a few others who really spurred him on. And you don’t want to see that side of Virat Kohli. “I think, he thrives on that. He is someone who, inadvertently, wants to hold onto certain things to do well. He loves proving people wrong. Even though he might not come out and say it, it fuels his passion. He is like a molten lava coming out. He is fiery and you don’t want to be anywhere close to him because you are gonna get burnt for sure. He has done this time and time again.” (Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj – ANI Photo)RCB have never managed to win the IPL title in 17 years since the league’s inception in 2008. Despite that, Kohli stuck with RCB and might continue to do so for the remainder of his career. For that reason and more, Karthik believes RCB owe it to Kohli for whatever success they have had. “You can speak about RCB, their success and all of that. But it is not happening without that man, and I am not saying with his batting. It’s the intimidating feeling that he gives when he is on the field. the way he pushes fielders,” said Karthik. The just-retired stumper then made a light comment on the way Kohli motivates his RCB teammates during the timeout. “If you ever had a mic in one of those timeouts, my god! There will be a lot of bleeps for this. And ‘Ben Stokes’ will be mentioned a bit,” said Karthik, and smiled. “But if you look past all that, the intensity that he carries and he expects each player to do, boy, I doff my hat to him. To be doing that in the 17th year of IPL, stand up and applaud the man because RCB and its fans should be grateful to have a guy like that. He is built differently, and that is what propels him.” (Virat Kohli – AFP Photo)Player-turned-commentator Doull was also part of the discussion on Cricbuzz; and while he admitted having questioned Kohli’s strike-rate, he wondered what makes pepople take a criticial comment on somebody’s game to such extreme levels where he received death threats for it, especially when it’s part of his job as a cricket expert and commentator. “I see a phenomenal player (in Kohli) who should be dominating more than what he was. That was my point around it. That’s why I talked about his strike rate. I felt at times he was afraid to get out because he was worried about what was behind him rather than just saying ‘I am so good’. And he is so good,” explained Doull. “I have said a thousand great things about Virat Kohli, but I say one thing that might be slightly negative, or construed to be negative, and I get death threats. Thats’ what happened.” Doull added that “it’s never personal”. (Virat Kohli – PTI Photo)“We have had great conversations. I have interviewed him at the toss, we have talked after games; it has never been a issue. I would never have any reason to have a personal issue,” said the New Zealander.Karthik concluded the discussion urging the fans to be able to differentiate between something personal and something that is purely from the point of view of cricket. “Somewhere Indian fans should find out the difference between people taking him (Kohli) on personally and people talking about the cricketing side of him. I think Virat appreciates it if you can find a difference,” said Karthik.

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England Vs Pakistan: After Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain hails IPL's role in preparing England for T20 World Cup 2024 after Pakistan win | Cricket News

England Vs Pakistan: After Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain hails IPL’s role in preparing England for T20 World Cup 2024 after Pakistan win | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain has provided his analysis on the preparedness of the Jos Buttler-led England team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. According to Hussain, the defending champions are in a favourable position heading into the tournament.England have been placed in Group B alongside rivals Australia, Scotland, Namibia, and Oman.Their campaign will commence against Scotland on June 4. SEE ALSO: T20 World Cup Schedule Hussain believes that the Three Lions are in better form compared to their performance in the ODI World Cup 2023, where they struggled initially.Hussain emphasized the importance of having a contingency plan, or “Plan B,” in case England encounters a slow start or faces challenges against stronger opponents.“They’ve just got to be better than they were at that 50-over World Cup. They went into that with a lot of hope and it didn’t start well and they didn’t react well. So they need to have a Plan B. If we don’t start well, if things don’t go well, how do we react? How do we react to slower pitches? How do we react when better sides come up against us? But under Buttler and what they’ve got in this side they’re in a real good place. They just got to go and do it,” Hussain stated. Hussain also commended the Indian Premier League (IPL) for its role in preparing England players for high-pressure situations and big matches.“They’re a very balanced side, they’ve played in a lot of big games. We don’t talk enough about the IPL and how that obviously sets you up as a cricketer but also sets you up in big games. And under pressure and big crowds and that’s what you need going into a World Cup. So they’ve done all that they could do,” the former England international added.(Inputs from ANI)

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Former Pak cricketer endorses Michael Vaughan's comment of 'IPL better than playing Pakistan' | Cricket News

Former Pak cricketer endorses Michael Vaughan’s comment of ‘IPL better than playing Pakistan’ | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has endorsed Michael Vaughan‘s controversial remark that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is preferable to playing against Pakistan given the team’s performance in the recent past.Vaughan’s statement stirred debate, with the ex-Pakistan player aligning with his sentiment. While Vaughan’s comment drew criticism for its insensitivity towards international cricket, it also reflects the IPL’s stature as a premier T20 league.Former England skipper Vaughan’s comment was made in relation to the ongoing T20I series between Pakistan and England.He suggested that the England Cricket Board (ECB) should have permitted its players to participate in the IPL rather than returning for the Pakistan series.Vaughan argued that playing in the IPL would have provided better preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This perspective underscores the growing significance of franchise-based leagues like the IPL in shaping players’ skills and readiness for international tournaments, sparking discussions about the balance between league commitments and national team duties. In a recent video on his YouTube channel ‘Catch And Bat with Kamran Akmal’, he echoed Vaughan’s sentiments, expressing agreement with the notion that Pakistan’s recent performances have been disappointing. He went on to describe the IPL as “tough and quality cricket,” emphasising the competitive nature of the tournament.Akmal’s endorsement of Vaughan’s viewpoint further underscores the acknowledgment within the cricketing community of the IPL’s prominence and the challenges it presents.“Over the past few days, I have wondered why a former England captain is commenting and taking Pakistan cricket non-seriously. It has been a painful thought, but I think he was correct in his assessment,” Akmal said.“Everybody knows the level of Pakistan cricket. We are losing against smaller teams like Ireland and in that sense Vaughan said that it is not a tough series. So the fault is ours. Had it been any other team like New Zealand, South Africa and India then Vaughan would not have said it.We need to understand that in IPL, the best bowlers and batters are participating with crowds of 40 to 50,000. So it is tough cricket and quality cricket,” Akmal explained. Michael Vaughan Ki Statement se Mein Agree Karta Hon | Kamran Akmal Akmal additionally suggested that Pakistan should leverage Vaughan’s comments as ‘motivation’ heading into the T20 World Cup.“The state of Pakistan cricket may be in need of a revamp, but this also presents an opportunity for growth. How do we respond to Vaughan’s critique? By showing our mettle in the upcoming T20 series against England. Let’s use this as a catalyst to regain our confidence and competitiveness, lest even teams like the USA start to see us as an easy target.”“The Pakistan cricket Chairman is to blame for all of this as he has completely ruffled the system. For now it remains to be seen if Pakistan team rises to the situation or keeps playing in the same zone as they have done till now,” he concluded.

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Indo-Pak fans spar online over video showing Pakistan players walking past IPL final playing on TV | Cricket News

Indo-Pak fans spar online over video showing Pakistan players walking past IPL final playing on TV | Cricket News

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The Pakistan team is currently in England, involved in a four-match T20I series; and when a video emerging from the tour showed the players walking past a TV playing the Indian Premier League (IPL) final, fans from India and Pakistan got involved in a war of words online — for and against the IPL.Strained relations between the two countires has kept Pakistan players out of the cash-rich league over the past several editions, which has often led to resentment across the border. In the video circulating on social media, Pakistan players could be seen walking through what appears to be a lounge as the television in the background could be seen airing the IPL final between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad.Soon after the video went viral, response from Pakistan fans started saying their players “ignored IPL final”, leading to a war of words between fans from the two neighbouring countries that are traditional rivals in cricket. WATCH VIDEO Some members of the Pakistan media also got involved in poking fun at the league that has gone on to become the best and the most fiercely-contested T20 league in the world ever since its inception in 2007.Pakistan rivaled it by establishing their T20 franchise tournament, the Pakistan Super League. However, the IPL’s popularity remains unmatched across the world. Here are some of the response to the video on microblogging platform ‘X’:

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'Can I bring my girlfriend?': Gautam Gambhir reveals first conversation with 'KKR's MVP and brother' Sunil Narine | Cricket News

‘Can I bring my girlfriend?’: Gautam Gambhir reveals first conversation with ‘KKR’s MVP and brother’ Sunil Narine | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir has heaped praise on star all-rounder Sunil Narine, who played a pivotal role in KKR’s third Indian Premier League title this year. Narine was named the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of IPL 2024. Narine regained his magical touch this season, scoring 488 runs and taking 17 wickets throughout the tournament.In a recent interaction with Sportskeeda, Gambhir spoke about his camaraderie with Narine and reminisced about the latter’s early days in the KKR camp.Gambhir, who captained KKR to their IPL victories in 2012 and 2014, highlighted Narine’s crucial role in those triumphs.”Me and Narine are similar characters, and so are our emotions. I still remember that when Narine first came into the IPL in 2012, it was in Jaipur, and we were going for practice, and I told him to come join for lunch. He was so shy that he did not say a single word during lunch, and the first question that he eventually asked was, ‘Can I bring my girlfriend to the IPL?’,” Gambhir recalled.Gambhir suggested that he and Narine share a special bond, describing the all-rounder as a brother. “He was so quiet that first season, but now, we can talk about anything. He is like a brother to me. I don’t see him as a friend, I don’t see him as a teammate, I see him as a brother. If I need him or he needs me, I think we are just one call away, that is the sort of relationship that we have built. We do not get excited much, we do not show too many emotions, we are not flamboyant, we just do the job and come back,” he added.Gambhir also emphasized Narine’s consistent value to KKR, asserting that he has always been the team’s ‘MVP’. “What can I say about him? Even if he didn’t win the ‘most valuable player award’ he would have still been the MVP. You are looking at his stats but he was KKR’s MVP even before the season got underway. The world has seen his talent as an all-rounder and I’m sure that Narine still has plenty to give to KKR and world cricket,” Gambhir explained.

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'Thoda improve hogaya lag raha hai': When Hardik Pandya sledged Dinesh Karthik | Cricket News

‘Thoda improve hogaya lag raha hai’: When Hardik Pandya sledged Dinesh Karthik | Cricket News

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Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement after Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s (RCB) exit from IPL 2024, following their loss to Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator; and while looking back at his playing days, the former wicketkeeper-batsman shared some interesting moments from on-field banter with his India teammates during his IPL career. “Every time I played against RCB and Virat Kohli caught my catch, ‘Ben Stokes’ came out of his mouth for sure,” said Karthik on a lighter note in an interview with Cricbuzz.”But that was a send-off.”Besides RCB, where he joined Virat, the 38-year-old veteran previously played for Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and erstwhile Gujarat Lions.He then went on to share the words Hardik Pandya, who is now Mumbai Indians’ skipper, once shot at him while he was batting. “Hardik Pandya sledged me saying ‘abhi legspinner aaya, iska thank you hi hai’ (a legspinner will come and it is Thank You time]. Then I had to play a couple of shots and then he was like ‘theek hai, thoda improve hogaya lag raha hai’ (okay, looks like he has improved a little]. That was good. He’s a good friend. He was also like ‘Commentator banke bhi thoda kaam kar raha hai’ (Even after becoming a commentator he’s working on his game) That was fun,” Karthik said. Karthik, who played 257 IPL matches and 60 T20Is, also mentioned he moment when former Mumbai Indians’ captain Rohit Sharma teased him with “isko World Cup khelna hai” comment on the field in the just-concluded season. “Rohit this year taunting me… unnecessarily giving me hopes,” said Karthik.Besides playing 60 T20Is, Karthik, who also does commentary, featured in 26 Tests and 94 ODIs for India.

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Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand | Cricket

Rishabh Pant enjoys first nets session in Indian jersey after 16 months, gears up for T20 WC

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New York [US], : Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant had his first nets session for Team India after at least 16 months, ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup opener against Ireland, scheduled for June 5. Rishabh Pant enjoys first nets session in Indian jersey after 16 months, gears up for T20 WC The ICC T20 World Cup will be played in the West Indies and the USA from June 1 to 29. The Men in Blue will also play Bangladesh in their only warm-up game on June 1 at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Pant, who returned to competitive cricket during the Indian Premier League this year following a life-threatening road accident in December 2022, will be making his much-awaited return to the blue colours of the Indian jersey. In the recently concluded IPL 2024, Rishabh’s team Delhi Capitals finished in the sixth spot with seven wins, seven losses and 14 points and failed to move to playoffs. He scored 446 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of over 155 with three half-centuries and emerged as the team’s top run-getter. Pant looked in great shape while practicing, having lost a lot of weight, and sported a much leaner look ahead of the tournament. In a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , Pant said, “This is one thing I missed a lot . Getting back on the field with the Indian jersey on, it is a different feel altogether and this is something I missed a lot. I think seeing the teammates and meeting them again, spending time, having fun with them, enjoying having conversations, really enjoying it.” Pant said that playing in the USA is a different prospect and it has opened a whole new channel for the sport. “We are used to playing in certain countries but this is a different prospect. It has opened up a different channel for sport because I feel cricket is growing around the world and getting in a country like the US and getting the exposure here would be nice for cricket as well as USA cricket I guess,” he said. He said he is getting used to the conditions and the sun shines a little brighter here in the US and there are new pitches. “So just getting used to conditions over here and let us see how it goes. Hopefully, I make it count and make it more better from here,” he concluded. In seven T20 WC matches and five innings, he has scored 87 runs at an average of 21.75 across 2021 and 2022 editions, with the best score of 39. India will start their T20 World Cup campaign on June 5 against Ireland at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Meanwhile, the most-awaited blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan will take place on June 9. They will later play tournament co-hosts USA and Canada to wrap up their Group A matches. In the tournament, India will be aiming to end their ICC trophy drought, having last won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. Since then, India has reached the 50-over World Cup final in 2023, semifinal in 2015 and 2019, the title clash of the ICC World Test Championship in 2021 and 2023, T20 WC final in 2014, semifinals in 2016 and 2022 but failed to secure a big ICC trophy. India will be aiming to win their first T20 WC title since they won the inaugural edition of the tournament back in 2007 in South Africa. In the last edition held in Australia in 2022, India lost to England by 10 wickets in the semifinals. India squad: Rohit Sharma , Hardik Pandya , Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant , Sanju Samson , Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

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'Grateful' Suryakumar Yadav clinches second consecutive ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year award | Cricket News

‘Grateful’ Suryakumar Yadav clinches second consecutive ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year award | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav has once again emerged victorious, securing his second consecutive ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award. The announcement comes as a testament to Yadav’s exceptional talent and outstanding contributions to the T20 format, further solidifying his position as a key player for the Indian team.Yadav, known for his explosive batting prowess and remarkable performances on the field, took to Instagram to share his gratitude for the prestigious accolade. In a post accompanied by a photo of himself adorned in the new Indian jersey, holding the coveted ICC award and donning the commemorative cap, Yadav expressed his appreciation for the recognition.The talented cricketer’s stellar record in T20 internationals during the previous year speaks volumes about his consistency and skill. Amassing an impressive total of 733 runs in 17 innings at a striking rate of 155.95 and an average of 48.86 in 2023, Yadav’s dominance in the format has been unparalleled. Despite facing challenges during the 2024 Indian Premier League season with the Mumbai Indians, including injuries that sidelined him at the start of the tournament, Yadav showcased his resilience and determination. He scored 345 runs at a striking rate of 167.47, which included a remarkable unbeaten century off just 51 balls.Yadav’s leadership abilities were also on display when he captained the Indian team during a T20I series in South Africa in December. However, an unfortunate ankle injury sustained during the series hampered his subsequent participation in matches, including Mumbai Indians’ initial games in the 2024 IPL season.As Yadav prepares to represent India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, his accolade serves as a source of motivation and inspiration.

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My relation with Virat Kohli is not to give masala to the public: Gautam Gambhir | Cricket News

My relation with Virat Kohli is not to give masala to the public: Gautam Gambhir | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir shared a warm embrace during the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League. It was one of the heartwarming moments of the just concluded season. The long-standing alleged hostility between the two former teammates seemed to dissolve as they demonstrated mutual respect and camaraderie. Kohli, the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Gambhir, mentor the Kolkata Knight Riders, showed that their past differences were behind them. Gambhir’s return to KKR as a mentor proved to be a masterstroke, as he guided Shreyas Iyer‘s team to their third IPL title. KKR dominated the final, thrashing Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai. This victory ended KKR’s 10-year title drought. Addressing the perceived rift with Kohli, Gambhir told Sportskeeda, “The perception is far away from the reality. My relation with Virat Kohli is something this country doesn’t need to know. He has as much right as I do to express himself and help our respective teams win. Our relation is not to give masala to the public.” Gambhir also praised Kohli’s six-hitting prowess, acknowledging RCB batter’s batting excellence.Kohli had a stellar IPL 2024 season, topping the batting charts with 741 runs in 15 games and winning the prestigious Orange Cap. Earlier, Kohli also reflected on the moment with Gambhir during an event. “People are very disappointed with my behaviour. I hugged Naveen, and then the other day, Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) came and hugged me. Your masala is over so you’re booing. We’re not kids anymore,” Kohli remarked.

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