Following an intense IPL season and facing criticism from his own home fans, Hardik Pandya has finally earned their adoration after winning the T20 World Cup for India. His brother Krunal Pandya congratulated him and shared a touching post with childhood photos. Despite the ups and downs, Hardik has emerged victorious and proved his resilience on the field.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will continue their aggressive batting approach in the upcoming Indian Premier League season, with a line-up featuring power hitters such as Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen. Chopra also praises the team's strong middle order, highlighting the balanced combination of left-handers and right-handers. With their previous record-breaking performances in IPL 2024, SRH's batting unit is expected to put on a show for their home crowd in Hyderabad once again.
Gujarat captain Axar Patel showcased his leadership skills once again with an unbeaten half-century and two crucial wickets to lead his team to victory against Karnataka in the Group B match at Holkar Stadium in Indore. This has further boosted his chances of becoming the captain of Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL 2025 season, as per comments from franchise co-owner Parth Jindal. Patel has been a key player for Gujarat this season, with six wickets and 134 runs in just seven outings so far.
Former India head coach, John Wright, has shared the fascinating story of how he discovered Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah during his tenure as Mumbai Indians' coach in 2013 to 2015. While watching a domestic T20 match, Wright was mesmerized by Bumrah's unusual action and raw talent, and wasted no time in signing him for the team. Even cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was blown away by Bumrah's talent during the first IPL game for Mumbai Indians. However, Wright also recalls how Bumrah faced initial struggles before becoming the world-renowned bowler he is today.
Thirteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi continues to make waves in the U19 Asia Cup as he leads India to victory in the semi-final against Sri Lanka. The left-handed batter smashed 31 runs in the second over of the chase and went on to score 67 runs off 36 balls, becoming the youngest-ever player to be signed in the IPL. India's bowlers also played a crucial role, restricting Sri Lanka to a modest total of 173 runs.
As Shreyas Iyer turns 30 today, we take a look at his impressive journey in cricket. From being selected for India's Under-19 World Cup team to becoming a captain of two Indian Premier League teams, Iyer has shown his strength both as a batter and a leader. His contributions to Mumbai in first-class cricket and his performance in international cricket make him one of the finest batters to represent India in recent times. And let's not forget, his impressive performance in IPL 2024, where he led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their championship win. Iyer's talent and leadership skills continue to shine bright in the world of cricket.
Despite struggling in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been retained by the Chennai Super Kings for a whopping 18 crore. He has proven his leadership skills by leading CSK to their fifth IPL title in 2023, and is set to continue as captain in the 2025 edition. From being secured for just 20 lakhs in the 2019 player auction, Gaikwad's journey to becoming an IPL superstar has been an impressive one.
The 26-year-old player, who was retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the new season of IPL 2025, received backlash from fans for his recent Instagram post featuring MS Dhoni. The post, which also included former player Zaheer Khan's similar dismissal of Dhoni, led to negative reactions towards Dayal. Despite this, RCB had a successful IPL 2025 mega auction, signing multiple big names to their team.
Urvil Patel, a 26-year-old opener from Gujarat, has made history yet again in T20 cricket, becoming the first batter to score two centuries in fewer than 40 balls. His unbeaten 115 off 41 deliveries, which included eight boundaries and 11 sixes, propelled Gujarat to an eight-wicket victory against Uttarakhand. This incredible feat comes just six days after his record-breaking 28-ball century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Despite his explosive performances, Patel was surprisingly released by his IPL franchise and went unsold in the mega auction.
Urvil Patel, a relatively unknown player from Gujarat, has broken a T20 record previously held by the most expensive player at the recent IPL mega auction, Rishabh Pant. Patel's incredible knock of 113 off just 35 deliveries has made him the fastest Indian to hit a T20 century, beating Pant's record by four balls. Despite being shortlisted at the auction, Patel was not bought by any team, making his record-breaking performance even more remarkable. After his stunning innings, he has caught the attention of IPL franchises as a potential injury replacement. With almost 1,000 runs in his T20 career so far, Patel could be the next big thing in Indian cricket.