Category: Cricket

  • Nitish Reddy Returns: SRH’s Key Player for IPL 2025 Season

    Nitish Reddy Returns: SRH’s Key Player for IPL 2025 Season

    Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) just got a big boost ahead of the IPL 2025 season. All-rounder Nitish Reddy has passed his fitness test after healing from a side strain injury.

    He couldn’t play for India in the Champions Trophy because of this injury, but now he is back in shape and scored 18 on the Yo-Yo test, which measures fitness levels. His return is exciting for SRH, especially since they lost in the finals against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) last year.

    With Reddy back, SRH improves its batting and bowling strength, making them a stronger candidate to win the IPL 2025 title. The IPL will start on March 22, and SRH aims to set things right after last year’s defeat.

    Nitish, who was kept by SRH in the mega-auction, will join the team’s practice camp starting Sunday. He had a solid performance in the 2024 IPL season, scoring 303 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 142.2 and taking three wickets.

    Recently, Reddy played a practice match and bowled without any pain. The BCCI medical team looked after him, but his recovery took longer than expected.

    At just 25 years old, Reddy has already made a mark, debuting in a T20I against Bangladesh and impressing the selectors. He even became the first Indian to score a century in Australia while batting at No. 8 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024.

    Reddy started his IPL journey in 2023 but had a quiet season. However, last season he was crucial for SRH reaching the finals. With Reddy’s return, SRH is eager to kick off the IPL 2025 season strong.

  • Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals: WPL 2025 Final Showdown

    Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals: WPL 2025 Final Showdown

    Mumbai, India: The Women’s Premier League 2025 final is set to take place in Mumbai on Saturday, where the Mumbai Indians will face off against the Delhi Capitals. Mumbai’s all-rounder, Hayley Matthews, is excited and hopes her team can win again, just like they did in 2023 when they beat the Capitals to take home the trophy.

    Hayley said, “I’m feeling really good. Our goal was to reach the finals. We have great memories from the first season when we won, so I hope we can create even more great moments this time.”

    Matthews has been a star in this tournament, leading with the most wickets (17) and being the third-highest run-scorer with 304 runs in nine matches.

    The Delhi Capitals secured their spot in the final by finishing first in the league, winning five out of eight games. However, they lost their last match against the Gujarat Giants. The Mumbai Indians, who finished second in the league, won their last match by 47 runs against the same team and are looking to build on that momentum.

    In their past meetings, the Capitals have won four out of seven games against Mumbai in the Women’s Premier League, including both matches this season.

    Teams:
    – Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Jess Jonassen, and more.
    – Mumbai Indians: Yastika Bhatia, Hayley Matthews, Harmanpreet Kaur, and others.

    Let’s see if the Mumbai Indians can claim their second title!

  • Pakistan Cricket: Struggles and Leadership Challenges Ahead

    Pakistan Cricket: Struggles and Leadership Challenges Ahead

    Once, Pakistan was a mighty force in cricket, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. Legendary players like Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, and Javed Miandad frightened teams all around the world, particularly their biggest rival, India. But today, that glory seems like a long time ago.

    Recent performances of the national team have been disappointing. They had early exits from the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the Champions Trophy. Even losing a home Test series to Bangladesh showed how far they had fallen. While a win against England brought a little joy, it was clouded by a last-minute decision to change the pitch, raising many questions.

    The poor showing of the Pakistan cricket team has put heavy pressure on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials. In the last few years, the PCB has seen many leaders come and go—big names like Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi have all been in charge, but the team still struggles.

    Ehsan Mani, who led the PCB from 2018 to 2021, shared his thoughts, saying there’s no lack of talent in Pakistan cricket. He believes the problem lies in how the cricket system is organized. “We have lots of cricket but not enough good cricket. We need to improve how cricket is played in Pakistan,” he said.

    Lately, the captaincy of the team has been unstable, jumping from Babar Azam to Shaheen Afridi and back again. Coaches are also stepping down, leaving behind questions about leadership and direction.

    Mani believes a strong leader at the top is crucial. “Leadership must come from the chairman and the board, and there should be a clear plan for the team,” he said.

    Recently, Shahid Afridi, a former captain, made a bold claim, saying the current PCB chairman admitted he doesn’t know much about cricket. Afridi warned that Pakistan cricket is in a very bad position and needs accountability. However, Mani disagrees with this criticism, stressing the importance of strong leadership instead.

    Concerns about Champions Trophy Hosting

    Pakistan hosted the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy in 2025 but under unusual conditions, with some matches moved to Dubai. The schedule was announced only two months before the event, which Mani criticized. He felt the ICC should have planned better considering the current relationship between India and Pakistan.

    Even after the tournament, there were discussions about whether India had unfair advantages from playing in familiar surroundings. Mani disagreed, saying the pitch was the same for everyone and the decision was made by the ICC.

    Looking forward, matches between India and Pakistan during ICC events are now set to happen at neutral venues, with Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 games in Sri Lanka instead of India. Mani points out that this is a decision made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

    In conclusion, there is still hope for Pakistan cricket if the PCB focuses on strong leadership and a clear vision for the future.

  • Varun Chakaravarthy: From Struggles to Champions Trophy Glory

    Varun Chakaravarthy: From Struggles to Champions Trophy Glory

    India’s cricket star, Varun Chakaravarthy, has come back strong after facing tough times. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, he didn’t perform well and didn’t take any wickets, which made him feel very low. After the tournament, he received threatening messages from fans saying he shouldn’t come back to India. He even had people following him home on bikes, which was scary for him.

    Varun shared how he struggled with depression after the World Cup because he felt he let everyone down. It took him three years to get picked again for the team, and he worked hard during that time to improve his skills. Recently, he showed everyone how much he has grown by taking nine wickets in the Champions Trophy. In this important tournament, he helped the team win the title by playing really well, including getting five wickets against New Zealand.

    Varun said he changed his daily routine and practiced a lot more after the World Cup. He used to practice hitting 50 balls during each session but began practicing double that amount. He felt happy when he finally got the call to join the team again. Varun wants to keep growing and improving, and he feels thankful for the positive attention he is now receiving compared to the past. Former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin believes Varun was the best player in the tournament and deserved a special award.

  • Introducing the Exciting Captains of IPL 2025

    Introducing the Exciting Captains of IPL 2025

    Gone are the days when famous players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni would show up for the toss in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 18th season of this exciting T20 tournament is bringing in a lot of new and young captains.

    On March 14, Axar Patel was chosen to be the captain of the Delhi Capitals. Now, all ten captains for IPL 2025 have been decided! Pat Cummins is the only captain from outside India, while the other nine are Indian players. Rajat Patidar will lead the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and he was named captain in February 2025.

    Ajinkya Rahane will be the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), with Venkatesh Iyer helping him as vice-captain. Rishabh Pant will be in charge of the Lucknow Super Giants, while Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to victory last year, will now captivate the Punjab Kings as they try to win their first IPL title.

    The IPL 2025 season begins on March 22 and will end with the final match on May 25, 2025. There will be 74 matches held at 13 different venues, with 12 double-header days. The day games will kick off at 3:30 PM IST, and the evening games at 7:30 PM IST.

    The opening match will see KKR face off against RCB at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The same place will host the second Qualifier and the final match. The first double-header day will happen on March 23, 2025, where the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) play against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the afternoon match. In the evening, the legendary teams Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will compete at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

    After the league phase, the Playoffs will take place in Hyderabad and Kolkata. Hyderabad will host the first Qualifier and the Eliminator on May 20 and 21, 2025. Then, the action moves to Kolkata for Qualifier 2 on May 23, 2025.

    Here’s the list of IPL 2025 captains:
    – Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane
    – Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins
    – Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson
    – Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar
    – Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad
    – Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel
    – Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant
    – Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer
    – Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill
    – Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya

  • Yuzvendra Chahal Rejoins Northamptonshire for 2025 Cricket Season

    Yuzvendra Chahal Rejoins Northamptonshire for 2025 Cricket Season

    Yuzvendra Chahal, the talented leg-spinner from India, is coming back to play for Northamptonshire in 2025. After playing with the Punjab Kings in the IPL, Chahal will join the English county team once again. Northamptonshire announced this exciting news on Thursday.

    Chahal will start playing for Northamptonshire on June 22, with a home game against Middlesex. However, he will miss the first seven matches of the season, which begins on April 4. Before heading to England, he will lead the Punjab Kings’ bowling team in the IPL from March 22 to May 25.

    His return comes just as India is gearing up for an important five-Test series in England that starts on June 20, but Chahal is not currently part of India’s Test plans. He had a great time with Northamptonshire in 2024, taking 19 wickets in just four County Championship matches. He also made a mark in the One-Day Cup with a memorable five-wicket haul against Kent and a career-best performance of 9 for 99 against Derbyshire.

    “I’m very happy to be coming back because I loved my time here last season,” Chahal said. “There are amazing people in the team, and I can’t wait to play with them again. We played very well towards the end of the last season, and I hope we can win some matches this time.”

    Darren Lehmann, the head coach of Northamptonshire, welcomed Chahal back, saying, “I am really excited that one of the best leg-spinners in the world is returning. He brings a lot of experience and is a great person who loves the game. Having him with us from mid-June onwards will be fantastic.”

    Chahal will return to play on March 25 for the Punjab Kings, after making history by becoming the most expensive spinner ever in the IPL with a bid of ₹18 crore.

  • PCB Files Complaint Over Trophy Ceremony Snub in Champions Trophy Final

    PCB Files Complaint Over Trophy Ceremony Snub in Champions Trophy Final

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially complained to the International Cricket Council (ICC). This happened after there was a problem during the final of the Champions Trophy, where their COO, Sumair Ahmed, was not invited to the trophy presentation ceremony.

    In the final match held in Dubai, India beat New Zealand to win the Champions Trophy for the third time. Since PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was not at the match, Sumair went instead as their representative. However, the ICC did not call him to the stage, ignoring his presence completely.

    During the ceremony, BCCI president Roger Binny gave white jackets to the Indian players and handed out medals. Meanwhile, ICC chairman Jay Shah presented the trophy to Indian captain Rohit Sharma and awarded the winning team.

    A PCB official said, “We’ve filed a complaint because what happened is unacceptable.” However, the ICC is unlikely to give a formal response to the PCB. According to ICC sources, protocols led to Sumair being left out. They explained that only certain high-ranking officials are usually invited on stage, and since Sumair is not a top office-holder, he was not included.

    The PCB finds this explanation unreasonable and has called for an official public clarification. They believe that being ignored was disrespectful to Pakistan, the host nation.

    They are waiting for an apology and assurance that such treatment won’t occur again, warning that they may take the matter to the Board of Governors if necessary.

  • Rishabh Pant: Play for India First, IPL Will Follow

    Rishabh Pant: Play for India First, IPL Will Follow

    Rishabh Pant, the famous Indian wicket-keeper, believes that while the Indian Premier League (IPL) is exciting, young cricketers should always aim to play for their country first. Pant, who was part of India’s Champions Trophy winning team but didn’t get to play, made his international debut in 2017.

    “When I was a kid, my only dream was to play for India. I never thought about the IPL. Now, everyone is focusing more on it. The IPL is great, but if you want to play for your country, everything else, including the IPL, will come later,” Pant shared in an interview with JioHotstar.

    He is grateful for his chance to play for India at just 18 years old. Pant is known for his exciting style of play, even hitting a one-handed six at times. He explained why his bat sometimes slips from his hands. “I hold my bottom hand lightly to keep it from taking control. I grip my top hand tightly. But when I might reach too far—like if the ball is too wide—I’m willing to take risks, even if it’s a 30-40% chance to succeed. In that moment, my goal is just to hit the ball as far as I can,” he explained.

    Pant also mentioned that doing gymnastics as a kid helped him in cricket. “My gymnastics coach always said it would be useful. Our fitness trainer once thanked him, saying what I learned still helps me today,” Pant said. He continues to practice and believes it has greatly improved his fitness for cricket.

  • Shahid Afridi Calls Out PCB Chairman for Lack of Cricket Knowledge

    Shahid Afridi Calls Out PCB Chairman for Lack of Cricket Knowledge

    Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has raised important concerns about cricket in Pakistan. He claims that the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, admitted he doesn’t know much about cricket. This revelation comes after the Pakistani cricket team had a disappointing performance in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, where they lost to New Zealand and India. Their last game against Bangladesh was canceled due to rain, leaving Pakistan at the bottom of their group.

    People are criticizing everything about the team’s performance, including the coach Aaqib Javed and his choices for players. Notably, Pakistan only took one main spin bowler, Abrar Ahmed, to the tournament, which was hosted by Pakistan.

    Afridi urged Naqvi to work with experts in cricket instead of bureaucrats who don’t understand the game. He mentioned that he met Naqvi and appreciated the improvements made at the Gaddafi Stadium but emphasized that a lack of cricket knowledge among PCB officials could hurt the team.

    Afridi pointed out that many current members of the PCB’s selection committee have no real experience in cricket. He believes they should strengthen the domestic cricket system in Pakistan because a better foundation will lead to a stronger national team. Afridi stated, “If the guardian is good, the child will automatically be good,” suggesting that good leadership leads to better players.

    Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the caretaker minister of the Pakistan government, took over as PCB chairman last year. Under his leadership, Pakistan’s cricket team also failed to advance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

  • Hardik Pandya Leads India to Champions Trophy Victory

    Hardik Pandya Leads India to Champions Trophy Victory

    Dubai – Hardik Pandya stepped up to bowl for India in the Champions Trophy when Jasprit Bumrah was not available. Despite his new role, he kept his fighting spirit and adjusted well. In the tournament, India relied mainly on spinners, so Pandya only bowled 24.3 overs in five matches, taking four wickets. He commented, “Bowling will take care of itself. This year was all about learning and facing challenges. I never run away from tough situations. If challenges come, I face them head-on. As long as I stay in the game, I have a chance.”

    After India’s victory, Pandya expressed that he has been quietly working hard to improve his game. “I always believe in myself and know that hard work pays off. The way you prepare shows in your performance,” he stated. Winning this tournament also helped him forget the disappointment of losing to Pakistan in the 2017 edition, where he was also a player. He said, “Today, I feel like a long-hidden dream has come true. Eight years is a long time, and many things have changed, but winning for India means everything to me. It’s not just about me; it’s about the team’s success that matters most.”