Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 :​​​​ Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad ​𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : April 03, Thursday𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 19:30 PM IST𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : Indian Premier League, 2025 Kolkata Knight Riders have been unbeaten against Sunrisers Hyderabad over the last four encounters. Kolkata Knight Riders 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. KKR vs SRH Match Prediction & Analysis Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face off in the 15th match of IPL 2025 this Thursday in Kolkata, with both teams struggling to find form. Last season’s finalists have had a rough start, each securing just one win from three games and sitting in the lower half of the standings. KKR will look to turn things around at home, while SRH will rely on their powerful batting lineup to step up after back-to-back disappointing performances. TEAMS PREVIEW Kolkata Knight Riders Preview Kolkata Knight Riders have struggled to string together good performances this season. They suffered two heavy defeats but managed a win against a Rajasthan Royals side that has been far from convincing. Their most recent outing saw them crumble against Mumbai Indians, losing by eight wickets at Wankhede. Batting first, they collapsed for just 117 on a pitch that had plenty to offer. Mumbai made light work of the chase, wrapping things up in only 12.5 overs. Such a heavy defeat is bound to leave the team rattled, and bouncing back won’t be easy. Their biggest concern is their shaky batting lineup. If Quinton de Kock departs early, the rest of the order doesn’t inspire much confidence. Sunil Narine is yet to settle into his opening role, while Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell have struggled for form. Angkrish Raghuvanshi has shown promise, but his quickfire knocks need to translate into bigger scores, especially with others failing to deliver. Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview Sunrisers Hyderabad made a fiery start to the season, smashing their way past opponents with fearless batting. But that same aggressive mindset has cost them in back-to-back losses, where their much-hyped lineup fell short. This team is a double-edged sword—one day, they’ll blast their way to 240+, and the next, they’ll collapse under their own attacking intent.  Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma hold the key to SRH’s chances. A strong powerplay start from the two is essential for the team’s chances, and while Abhishek has been out of form in the last three games, he’s too talented to keep failing. He’s due for a solid knock, and we’re backing him to put up at least 30 runs here at a 200+ strike rate. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen could also be game-changers on this wicket. Both take a few deliveries to get in, but can shift gears quickly once set. Another big positive for SRH has been Aniket Verma. His quickfire 36 (13) and 74 (41) in the last two matches show he’s turning into a lethal lower-order finisher. On the bowling side, Mohammed Shami and Pat Cummins need to step up and find their rhythm early. They haven’t been as effective as expected, leaking runs at crucial moments. Adam Zampa, who is usually dependable, has struggled with his lengths. However, young leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari impressed in the last game and could be an x-factor on the Eden Gardens surface. Weather Conditions The pitch at the Eden Gardens has been a subject of much debate over the last few days. In the season opener, we got see a really good batting wicket here with something in it for the bowlers as well. KKR, however, are miffed at the curators for not creating a slow pitch that assists their spinners. We might get to see a slower Eden pitch this time given the pressure the groundstaff are under. A belter will play into SRH’s hands. The weather in Kolkata will be slightly warm but cool in the evening. Eden Gardens typically sees an average first-innings score of 167, but last season the venue witnessed eight totals crossing the 200-run mark, showing a shift towards higher-scoring games. The pitch is likely to remain favorable for batters this time around with some help for the pacers and spinners. However, with the ground’s shorter boundaries, teams batting first will aim for a target in the range of 190-200 runs. Toss: To Bowl Chasing is usually the preferred option at Eden Gardens as we saw in the first game how RCB comfortably chased down a target of 175 in 16.2 overs against KKR.

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Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 :​​​​ Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : March 31, Monday 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 19:30 PM IST𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai City, India 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : Indian Premier League, 2025 Kolkata Knight Riders beat Mumbai Indians both times the two teams met in IPL 2024, including once at Wankhede. Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders 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. TEAMS PREVIEW Mumbai Indians Preview Mumbai Indians are off to a rough start this season, having lost both their matches and finding themselves at the lower end of the table in ninth place. Their latest setback came against Gujarat Titans, where they struggled to chase 197 and ended up with 160-6 in Ahmedabad. The batting unit, which is usually a strong point for MI, hasn’t quite clicked yet. Rohit Sharma is struggling for form, and there are no clear signs of a turnaround. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma have looked promising at times but haven’t delivered a defining innings so far.  Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, found it tough to accelerate in the final overs against Gujarat, with slower cutters keeping him in check—something he will need to adjust to in upcoming games. On the bowling side, Mumbai have looked more settled. Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult will be relied upon to strike early, while Mitchell Santner and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are expected to keep things under control in the middle phase while picking up wickets.  Kolkata Knight Riders Preview After a disappointing start against RCB, Kolkata Knight Riders bounced back impressively, defeating Rajasthan Royals by 8 wickets. On a sluggish track in Guwahati, they kept Rajasthan to a modest 151-9 and comfortably chased it down in 17.3 overs. Quinton de Kock anchored the innings with a superb unbeaten 97 off 61 deliveries. De Kock’s return to form is a massive boost for KKR. He can take apart bowling attacks at the top and has the ability to bat deep. Having played plenty of cricket at Wankhede for MI, he knows the conditions well and averages 34 at this venue. Ajinkya Rahane could be another game-changer, given his experience here. He has piled up plenty of runs at this ground over the years.  KKR’s batting lineup has solid options, including Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who is expected to come in as an Impact Player, has already caught attention with his impressive performances and could be a game-changer in the upcoming matches. Weather Conditions The pitch at the Wankhede Stadium is usually a flat deck with plenty of runs on offer. However, the ball does move around under lights and seamers will get assistance with the new ball in the first few overs. If batters can successfully negate that period, they can milk the bowling later on. Spinners usually don’t get much turn or grip here and since this will be a fresh pitch, expect it to be hard and the slower bowlers to be carted around. The weather in Mumbai will be extremely humid and warm, but clear of any rain interruptions.  MI vs KKR Pitch Report The average score batting first at the Wankhede Stadium is 170. The highest total posted at the venue in the IPL is 235-1 by RCB versus MI back in 2015. Last season, four scores over 200 were posted at the venue, with the highest being Mumbai Indians’ 234-5 versus Delhi Capitals.  Toss: To Bat Batting first is usually the safer option at Wankhede. In IPL 2024, four of the seven games played at the venue were won by the team batting first.

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Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPLT20, Today Match Prediction

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 :​ Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders​𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : March 26, Wednesday𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 19:30 PM IST 𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, India 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : IPLT20 2025 Big test for the Royals’ bowlers after mayhem in the first game  Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders 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 KKR Match Prediction & Analysis The Indian Premier League 2025 has got off to a flying start. As we head into the second round of games, the Rajasthan Royals will take on the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 6th match. Both teams have lost their opening games and shall start the game under immense pressure. The Rajasthan Royals lost to the Sunrisers Hyderabad after a poor bowling performance, while the Kolkata Knight Riders lost against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.  The Rajasthan Royals will be under pressure in this game after conceding 286 runs against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The bowling attack lacks the biting teeth, which puts the team under pressure. The Kolkata Knight Riders have a strong bowling attack with two of the best spinners in the tournament. It is a must-win game for both teams to get their campaign back on track, and we expect a thrilling contest.  TEAMS PREVIEW Rajasthan Royals Preview It was an absolute carnage for Riyan Parag and his men in the last game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The bowling attack went for a leather hunt, conceding 286 runs, the second-highest score in the IPL. Parag would like to draw a few positives from the strong counter-attack by his batters but needs a better performance from his bowling unit to win this game.  Sanju Samson was in his full flow in the last game, and he will look to deliver an electrifying start in this game with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Riyan Parag and Nitish Rana missed out in the last game and will look to build partnerships in the middle order with Dhruv Jurel, who played a good knock. Shimron Hetmyer and Shubham Dubey are good strikers, and the team expects quick runs in the lower middle order.  The bowling attack was taken to the cleaners in the last game and needs to rethink its strategy and approach. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Maheesh Theekshana must strike early and keep the scoring rate under check. Jofra Archer must overcome his poor show in the last game and bowl better lines in the middle overs with Sandeep Sharma. The team needs Nitish Rana and Tushar Deshpande to do well in the supporting roles. Kolkata Knight Riders Preview Ajinkya Rahane and his men would look to put the upset in the last game against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They made 20 runs less than the par score on that wicket and didn’t trouble the RCB batters with the ball. Their opponents struggled with the ball in the last game, and Rahane would like to exploit and earn their first points for the season.    Quinton de Kock missed out on the last game and must have delivered a good start with Sunil Narine, who looked in good form. Ajinkya Rahane batted well in the last game and must do well in the middle order with Venkatesh Iyer and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Rinku Singh and Andre Russell failed in the last game, and the team expects a good show from them in the lower middle order.  The bowling attack didn’t hit its mark in the last game. Vaibhav Arora and Spencer Johnson struggled with the new ball, and they will look to bowl better lines in the next game. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy are key bowlers for the team, and they must do well in middle overs. Harshit Rana and Andre Russell must deliver strong performances in the supporting roles. Weather Conditions We expect clear skies over Guwahati and a flat batting surface where batsmen can score easily. Bowlers have their chances on this surface as it occasionally surprises the batters. The average first-inning score has been around 171 runs, and the team batting first would be happy to have 190 runs on the board. RR vs KKR 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 initially, but they ease as the game progresses. Teams chasing scores have won more games at this venue in the past. Both captains will take a cue from the past results and look to bowl first.

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Rs 135, 000 Crore: Report Claims IPL's Business Value, Says MI Not Most Valued Team, It Is...

Rs 135, 000 Crore: Report Claims IPL’s Business Value, Says MI Not Most Valued Team, It Is…

The IPL 2024 was huge success for Kolkata Knight Riders, with the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise winning its third title. IPL, overall as an entity, has grown manifold financially too in the past one year. Houlihan Lokey, a global investment bank, in its latest report has said that IPL’s business value grew by 6.5 per cent while its brand value increased by 6.3 per cent over the past one year. The report also said revealed the IPL franchises’ brand value and surprisingly the star-studded Mumbai Indians or Royal Challengers Bengaluru are not the most valued team.    “Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, today issued the 2024 IPL Brand Valuation Study, its comprehensive report into the business enterprise and brand values of the Indian Premier League (IPL),” a press release from the bank said. “According to the report, the value of IPL as a business has surged to US$16.4 billion, up by 6.5% (INR 135,000 crores), reflecting the continued strength and global appeal of the league. The stand-alone brand value of the IPL has increased by 6.3% to US$3.4 billion (INR 28,000 crores), over the past year.  “The title sponsorship for the IPL has been secured by the Tata Group for a further five-year period, from 2024 until 2028, for approximately US$300 million (INR 2,500 crores), paying approximately 50% more than the previous deal of INR 335 crores per season. This, along with last year’s media rights auction, reinforces the IPL’s status as a pivotal platform for esteemed brands seeking to enhance their value.”  The Report added that the most valued IPL franchise is Chennai Super Kings.  “In terms of valuation, despite failing to make it to the playoffs in 2024, with a brand value of US$231.0 million, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) continues to be the most valued franchisee, achieving a growth of 9% from the previous year. IPL 2024 winners, Kolkata Knight Riders, saw the highest growth, with a 19.30% rise from 2023,” the release stated.  Five-time champions Mumbai Indians are not even in the top three, when it comes to brand value, the report added.  “Ranked second in brand and business value, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) boasts a staggering brand worth of US$227.0 million. Winners of the TATA IPL 2024, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has replaced Mumbai Indians to secure the third place in brand value with US$216.0 million. “Mumbai Indians (MI), which is another immensely successful and popular team, closely trails in fourth place on the table with a brand value of US$204.0 million. With the return of its legacy player and new captain Hardik Pandya, MI has solidified its status as one of the most evolving franchisees in IPL history, paving a path to player trades,” the report said.  Topics mentioned in this article

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'Fair character', 'has the fire', 'can infuse winning culture': Gautam Gambhir can be the kind of coach India need | Cricket News

‘Fair character’, ‘has the fire’, ‘can infuse winning culture’: Gautam Gambhir can be the kind of coach India need | Cricket News

While it has been widely reported that former India opener Gautam Gambhir as the new India coach is a ‘done deal’, an official announcement on the team’s new boss replacing Rahul Dravid might take a few more days to come. But experts have no doubt left that Gambhir is the kind of character who has the fire inside him to take the Indian team to new heights.Among his most recent successes, Gambhir took over the role of Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) mentor just before IPL 2024 and turned out to be the chief architect of KKR’s third triumph in the T20 league. It only added to his credentials as a mentor, after he had taken Lucknow Super Giants to the playoffs in two successive editions, before making a move to join KKR in a similar role. “What a record he has had as a coach!” said the former wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who announced his retirment after IPL 2024, on Cricbuzz. “Being a mentor for LSG, two years on the bounce qualifying (for playoffs), comes to KKR and they say, ‘Please, you got to do something special for us’. Ends up winning the trophy.” It was effectively Gambhir’s third IPL title in KKR colours. When the team won its two titles in 2012 and 2014, Gambhir was the KKR captain. “He has been at the helm, taken all the decisions (for KKR), be it sending (Sunil) Narine opening or getting Mitchell Starc in the auction — in all of those big recruits and getting the right team, the right balance, and then taking all the shots,” Karthik, who has previously played for KKR in the IPL, said.“I am seeing in the news that he could be part of the Indian team (chief coach) as well, and I really wish he does. He has that fire in him,” Gambhir added. Gambhir’s track record as a player and coach/mentor reflects that he knows what it takes to win big tournaments. Besides three IPL titles with KKR, Gambhir was part of the team under MS Dhoni when India won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.Karthik believes that Gambhir has put things in such proper order at KKR that even if he has to leave the job and take up the role of India’s chief coach, KKR remain well placed to excel in the next IPL season as well. “I think he has really built a good (KKR) team, one that will have a lot of players retained and he has left them in a very, very good place. And if he gets the opporunity (India coach), I really wish he takes it. Being part of the national team and the patriotism that he has, I think he will definitely be tempted to take it and I really wish he comes in because he will infuse that winning culture he has infused here (at KKR),” reckoned Gambhir. “India would do very well under him because I feel he has that fire that is required.“When it comes to KKR, whenever he is back (after stint as India coach), they will take him back with open arms. But I do believe he has left Shreyas Iyer and the team in a much better place than it was when he took it (mentorship role).” Former New Zealand pace Simon Doul was also part of the discussion on Cricbuzz, and fully agreed with Karthik’s opinion.“Those (Gambhir) are the kind of people you want at the helm — highly respected, tough. He is a tough character, but I think he is very fair character and I think he’ll do a great job if he were to take over, if he were to accept the role,” said Doull.The tenure of current India coach, Rahul Dravid, will end after the T20 World Cup in June.

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"No Retentions But 8...": KKR CEO's Offbeat Advice For Next IPL Auction

“No Retentions But 8…”: KKR CEO’s Offbeat Advice For Next IPL Auction

KKR defeat SRH to clinch IPL 2024 title© AFP The IPL 2024 season came to a close with Kolkata Knight Riders claiming the title after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in a somewhat one-sided final. This year’s competition was the last in the three-year cycle and that means a mega-auction will take place ahead of IPL 2025. There will be a major shift in the tournament once again with teams allowed to retain just a handful of players and the majority of the cricket going under the hammer. However, reports claimed that IPL owners are discussing slight tweaks to the rules and KKR owner Venky Mysore even came with an interesting suggestion. In a video posted by famous cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle on his YouTube channel, he revealed that Venky Mysore came up with a suggestion that there should not be any retentions and teams should have 8 Right To Match (RTM) cards which will result in retentions at market price. The last mega-auction took place ahead of the IPL 2022 where all teams were allotted a purse of Rs 90 crore and were allowed to retain a maximum of 4 players. However, it came with the condition that the teams could retain a maximum of 3 Indian players and not more than 2 overseas players. Earlier, former Indian cricket team batter Ambati Rayudu suggested that IPL winners should receive an extra 2-3 retention spots in these mega auctions. However, he did not find a lot of support and former England skipper Kevin Pietersen did not agree with his suggestion. “And maybe, you know, the winner should get an extra 2-3 spots or maybe those who reached the final. They should get that because they deserve it, they played a brilliant season, so maybe they should take an extra 2-3 spots in terms of retention,” Rayudu said on Star Sports. Topics mentioned in this article

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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

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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Shah Rukh Khan "Won't Be Successful...": Gautam Gambhir's Intriguing Revelation After KKR Heroics In IPL

Shah Rukh Khan “Won’t Be Successful…”: Gautam Gambhir’s Intriguing Revelation After KKR Heroics In IPL

Gautam Gambhir with Sunil Narine, Shah Rukh Khan and the IPL 2024 trophy.© Twitter Gautam Gambhir is now the cynosure of Kolkata Knight Riders after the IPL 2024 win. There is every reason for him to get all the adulation. He transformed a team that had been waiting for an IPL title for a decade into a champion side. Since joining KKR as a mentor. Gambhir had one mission. That mission – to take KKR to third IPL win – is successful. The joy of the entire KKR team knew no bounds after the IPL 2024 triumph on Sunday. Even KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, who has been a constant presence in his team’s IPL 2024 matches, was happy.  Shah Rukh even said in his dressing room speech that he now intends to se Gautam Gambhir on the dance floor, an offer which was declined by the latter. Gambhir, in a recent interview was asked, after his dance prospect after KKR win. His reply was intersting.  “Aap galat aadmi se pooch rahe hai. Na mein dance kar sakta hu, na mein ga sakta hu. Lekin ha doosro ko dance karte hue dekh zaroos sakta hu and usko enjoy kar sakta hu. Wo maine zaroos kia. Shah Rukh bhai apne zindagi mein bahut successful rahe hai, aur bahut successful rahenge bhi. Lekin ek jagah jaha pe woh unsuccessful hai ki woh mujhe dance nahi kara paye. Mujhe lagta hai aage aane wale time mein bhi successful hone. Pas iss jagah pe woh successful nahi ho paenge kiuki main dance aur gaana ga hi nahi sakta (You are asking this to the wrong person. Neither can I dance, nor can I sing. Yes, I love to watch others dance and enjoy. Shah Rukh bhai has been very successful in his life and he will continue to be successful. But I think he won’t be successful in this aspect as I can’t dance or sing),” Gautam Gambhir said on Sportskeeda. Several reports have claimed that Gambhir is one of the front-runner for the post but in a recent interview, after he mentored KKR to IPL 2024 title, he indicated something unique. He was asked about KKR now being a ‘trophy-winning dressing room’.  “Today you are saying this because we have won our third trophy. But if you ask me, we are still two trophies away from MI and CSK. Today I am content, but again that hunger (is there) that you are still not the most successful team in the IPL, for that to happen you need to win the IPL three more times,  which will require a lot of hard work. So I think, the next mission is that, if we can make KKR the most successful team in the IPL. There won’t be any bigger feeling for me. But the journey abhi shuru hui hai (the journey has just started),” Gautam Gambhir said on Sportskeeda. The official deadline for application submission for the post of Indian cricket team coach selection is over. Monday was the last date to submit the google sheets to be the next India coach. Topics mentioned in this article

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"Can I Bring My Girlfriend To IPL?": Gautam Gambhir Reveals KKR Star's First Words

“Can I Bring My Girlfriend To IPL?”: Gautam Gambhir Reveals KKR Star’s First Words

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir has showered big praise on star all-rounder Sunil Narine who helped the franchise win their Indian Premier League (IPL) title last week. Narine was named ‘Most Valuable Player’ of IPL 2024 as KKR defeated SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final last Sunday. Under Gambhir’s mentorship, Narine regained his magical touch, scoring 488 runs and picking up 17 wickets. In a recent interaction, Gambhir opened up on his camaraderie with Narine, and recalled the latter’s early days in the KKR camp. Gambhir was the captain of KKR when they won the IPL in 2012 and 2014, respectively, with Narine playing a crucial role in both the 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 told Sportskeeda in an interview. Gambhir suggested that Narine and him are similar persons, and also termed 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 insisted that Narine has always been KKR’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 of to give to KKR and world cricket,” he further explained. Topics mentioned in this article

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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

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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