Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 :​​​​ Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : March 30, Sunday 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 17:30 PM IST 𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, India 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : Indian Premier League, 2025 Must-win game for Rajasthan Royals after back-to-back losses  Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. RR vs CSK Match Prediction & Analysis We are over with the first round of games in the Indian Premier League 2025. The Rajasthan Royals will be under immense pressure as they face the Chennai Super Kings in the 11th game of the season. In their last game, the Royals suffered a crushing defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders. The Chennai Super Kings also went down against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the last game and shall look for a strong comeback.   The Rajasthan Royals’ bowling attack has been all over the place in two games. They haven’t troubled the batters, lowering their confidence in the camp. The side must get its acts together in this game. The Chennai Super Kings have a strong bowling attack and depth in the batting. The Royals must win here to regain their confidence, and it will be interesting to see if they are up for the task.  TEAMS PREVIEW Rajasthan Royals Preview Riyan Parag and his team will face the heat headlining into their 3rd game.  The team has suffered big losses in its two games and went down by 8 wickets against the Kolkata Knight Riders. The bowling attack looks rusty, and this will be a massive challenge for the team against the Super Kings’ batting depth. Parag must inspire confidence in his players and win here to earn their first points.    Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal didn’t look at their best in the last two games, and the onus will be on them to deliver a good start. The middle order packs a punch, and the team needs a good show from Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Nitish Rana. Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhruv Jurel, and Shubham Dubey can hit the ball cleanly, and they will look to add quick runs.   The bowling attack will be under pressure after ordinary performances in back-to-back games. Fazalhaq Farooqi, who replaces Jofra Archer, must bowl a good spell with Maheesh Theekshana. Hasaranga must bring his experience to play and do well in the middle overs with Parag and Sandeep Sharma. The side will also expect a good show in the supporting role from Nitish Rana and Tushar Deshpande. Chennai Super Kings Preview Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side suffered an uncharacteristic loss in their last game against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The team went down by 50 runs after their strong batting lineup failed to deliver the goods. Gaikwad would like to put this loss behind and come up with a strong show in this game. Their opponents are struggling, and CSK will look to exploit this weakness.   Rachin Ravindra and Rahul Tripathi will look to take on Rajasthan’s new-ball attack, which has struggled so far. The middle order failed in the last game, and the team expects partnerships between Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, and Sam Curran. They have depth in the batting and shall expect quick runs from Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, and Ravichandran Ashwin in the lower middle order.   The bowling attack didn’t use the conditions well in the last game, and the team needs early strikes from Khaleel Ahmed and Ravichandran Ashwin. Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran must keep things in check in the middle overs. Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, and Noor Ahmed add depth to the attack. Weather Conditions We expect clear skies over Guwahati. The batting surface will be flat, where batsmen can play their strokes. There is a hint of slowness on this track, which offers an advantage to the spinners. The average first-inning score has been around 173 runs, and the team batting first would be happy to have 190 runs on the board. RR vs CSK Pitch Report Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, is large and not the easiest venue for scoring big. Fast bowlers get assistance from the surface early in the game. Batsmen who build their innings have done well. Spinners, who turn the ball sharply, have done well at this venue. Toss: To Bowl The conditions are challenging for the batsmen in the first 10 overs but ease in the second half. The side chasing the score has won the last two games easily. Dew also plays a role in the evening when bowling gets tougher. The side winning the toss would look to bowl first on this track.

Read More
Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 :​​​​ Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : March 30, Sunday 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 15:30 PM IST 𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : Dr. Y.S.Rajashekar Reddy Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, India 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : Indian Premier League, 2025 KL Rahul is expected to be available for Delhi Capitals against Sunrisers Hyderabad after missing their first game.  Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. DC vs SRH Match Prediction & Analysis Delhi Capitals (DC) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) face off in the 10th match of IPL 2025 in Visakhapatnam. DC kicked off their campaign with a tight victory at this very venue, which should give them a morale boost. SRH, on the other hand, started strong but stumbled in their second outing with an unexpected home loss. They’ll be eager to bounce back, but Delhi won’t go down without a fight. This one promises to be a thrilling battle. RECENT PERFORMANCE TEAMS PREVIEW Delhi Capitals Preview Delhi Capitals kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign with a nail-biting victory over Lucknow Super Giants. Chasing 210 in Visakhapatnam, they found themselves struggling at 113-6 in 12.3 overs. But a stunning rescue act from Ashutosh Sharma (66* off 31) and young gun Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15) carried them over the line in the final over with just one wicket in hand. For their next game, Delhi will be looking for more from their top and middle order. Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, and Abishek Porel couldn’t quite deliver in the previous match but have to do better here. Du Plessis has the experience to anchor an innings, but McGurk is unpredictable—he’ll either blast a quickfire 40 or fall cheaply. On a positive note, KL Rahul is expected to return after missing the first game. His presence in the middle brings much-needed stability to a batting lineup that looks fragile. The team will also be counting on Ashutosh Sharma to continue his heroics as a finisher. Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview After a strong opening win against Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad looked set to continue their scintillating form. However, their momentum was halted by an unexpected loss to an understrength Lucknow Super Giants. Batting first on a favorable Hyderabad surface, SRH could only manage 190-9, a total LSG chased down with ease in just 16.1 overs. Travis Head (47 off 28) was the only batter to get going, while the rest struggled, falling in quick succession while trying to attack every delivery. This is the risk of SRH’s high-risk approach—when their top three fire, they can blow teams away with massive scores. But if they don’t, the batting collapses fast. Abhishek Sharma is a crucial player in this lineup. If he gets through the initial overs, he can take the game away. Heinrich Klaasen was unfortunate to be run out in the last match, and he looks due for a big innings this time. Weather Conditions This pitch tends to favor spinners, with the ball keeping low and making things tougher for batters in the second innings. That being said, recent matches at this venue have seen high totals, with batters making the most of favorable conditions. The weather will be hot and humid in the afternoon, but it will cool down a little during the evening. There is no forecast of rain so we will get a full match.  DC vs SRH Pitch Report Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium usually sees teams batting first put up around 168 runs. However, last season painted a different picture with the pitch offering plenty for the batters. The two matches played here saw first-innings scores soar to 191-5 and an astonishing 272-7. In IPL 2025’s first game at this ground, Lucknow Super Giants set a target of 209-8, but Delhi Capitals successfully chased it down in the final over. Both teams will be eyeing a score of over 200 runs in this match. If SRH bat first, however, even 250 can be breached.  Toss: To Bat This is an afternoon game, and batting first would be the preferred option for both teams.

Read More
Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 :​​​ Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : March 29, Saturday𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 19:30 PM IST𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : Indian Premier League, 2025 Gujarat Titans have dominated Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium, winning all three matches played between them at this venue. Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. GT vs MI Match Prediction & Analysis Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will clash in the ninth match of IPL 2025 in Ahmedabad. Both sides are coming off losses in their first games and will be eager to grab their first points. The previous match at this venue saw over 450 runs being scored in 40 overs, and a similar high-scoring contest is expected. The team that attacks with the bat more aggressively is likely to gain the upper hand on this batting-friendly surface. TEAMS PREVIEW Gujarat Titans Preview Gujarat Titans started their campaign with a tough 11-run loss to Punjab Kings. The Narendra Modi Stadium played host to a run-fest, with Punjab smashing 243-5 after being sent in to bat. Gujarat fought hard in reply but couldn’t get over the line. Sai Sudharsan (74 off 41) and Jos Buttler (54 off 33) were the bright spots with the bat. Shubman Gill also got off to a fast start but couldn’t convert it into a big score. However, his record at this venue is outstanding—he has nearly 1,000 runs in 19 matches at the venue, including three centuries. Gill will be expected to step up in this game. GT’s lower middle order looks unreliable, with Shahrukh Khan, Sai Kishore, and Arshad Khan filling those slots. If Gujarat loses wickets early, they could be in serious trouble. Bowling is another area of concern. Mohammed Siraj struggled in the previous fixture, conceding 54 runs in his four-over spell. Kagiso Rabada is their most reliable pacer, but he can’t do it alone. Rashid Khan also had an off day, going for 48 runs in his four overs. The only standout was Sai Kishore, who picked up three wickets for 30. Gujarat’s bowling needs to step up, or they’ll have a tough time in the tournament. Mumbai Indians Preview Mumbai Indians didn’t have the best start to their IPL 2025 campaign, falling short in their opener against Chennai Super Kings. The low-scoring match at Chepauk saw Mumbai struggle on a sluggish pitch, with Tilak Varma’s 31 being the highest contribution. The final total of 155-9 wasn’t enough, as CSK chased it down without much trouble. Ahmedabad’s conditions, however, should be far more favorable for Mumbai’s batting lineup. With players like Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, and Suryakumar Yadav, they’ll be eager to make an impact on a pitch suited for stroke play. Adding to their strength is the return of captain Hardik Pandya, who had to sit out the first game due to an over-rate penalty from the previous season. Having played for Gujarat in 2022 and 2023, Pandya knows this surface inside out and can contribute with both bat and ball. Mumbai’s bowling attack will look to make early inroads with Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar leading the charge. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner is expected to control the run flow in the middle overs while also providing wicket-taking opportunities. Meanwhile, young left-arm wrist-spinner Vignesh Puthur, who impressed with 3-32 on debut, could again play a crucial role. Weather Conditions The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium will be a flat deck. In the previous game here, we saw batters making merry and hitting through the line with ease. There is hardly any assistance for fast bowlers and both teams will be looking to make as many runs as possible off them. Spinners will find some grip in the middle, but it won’t be much of an issue. The pitch will stay true throughout. The weather in Ahmedabad will be warm and clear with no forecast of rain. GT vs MI Pitch Report In the previous game played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Punjab Kings amassed 243-5 after batting first and Gujarat Titans scored 232-5 in response – that’s a total of 475 runs in 40 overs! Expect another run-fest at the venue with more than 420 runs on the cards.  Toss: To Bat In the previous game played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the team batting first registered a comfortable win. Batting first, hence, seems to be to safer option here. 

Read More
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

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)

Read More
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

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.

Read More
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

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)

Read More
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

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.

Read More
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

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’:

Read More
'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

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.

Read More
'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

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.

Read More