Gujarat Titans have suffered a major setback in their IPL 2025 campaign as New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips has been ruled out of the tournament following a groin injury. It happened during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 6 when Phillips sustained the injury while fielding. With the team already missing the services of Kagiso Rabada, GT will have to find a suitable replacement for the all-rounder.
Pakistan's struggles continued in the second ODI against New Zealand as they lost seven wickets while chasing a target of 293. Star batter Babar Azam, who failed to perform in the first ODI, could only manage 1 run before being dismissed by Jacob Duffy. With fans and cricket enthusiasts expressing frustration over his ongoing struggles with the bat, the pressure is on Babar to deliver in the upcoming matches of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Despite his form difficulties, many still believe that Babar's class is permanent and a big innings is just around the corner.
Despite a strong performance from Babar Azam, Pakistan fell short in their first ODI against New Zealand, thanks to a batting collapse. With Babar joining the ranks of top half-century makers for Pakistan, the team was unable to secure a win, with little support from other batters and strong performances from New Zealand's Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell.
Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull took a dig at the curator of Eden Gardens, Sujan Mukherjee, for not considering the demands of the home team for a spin-friendly pitch ahead of Kolkata Knight Riders' match against Rajasthan Royals. Legendary commentator Harsha Bhogle also supported Doull's statement, emphasizing that home advantage is crucial in a tournament like IPL. With tensions rising between the franchise and the curator, it remains to be seen what kind of pitch is laid out for the match.
In an interaction with media, former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson predicts that Virat Kohli will have a big impact on the fortunes of Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2025. Despite a tweaked batting approach, Kohli's hunger and passion remains, which was evident in his recent performances in the Champions Trophy. With the first season-opening match between RCB and KKR set to take place after 17 years, get the latest updates on IPL 2025, including points table, teams, schedule, most runs and most wickets, as well as live cricket score updates.
In a monumental performance, Pakistani youngster Hasan Nawaz set a new record for the fastest century by a Pakistan player in T20Is. His scintillating knock of 100 runs off just 44 balls helped Pakistan chase down a massive total of 205 in just 16 overs against New Zealand. The previous record was held by star batter Babar Azam, who had hit a century off 49 balls earlier this year. With this historic feat, Hasan has established himself as a formidable force in the world of cricket.
Pakistani opener Ahmed Shahzad fires back at critics who claim they don't have the talent to replace senior players, as 22-year-old Hassan Nawaz smashes a brilliant unbeaten century to seal a nine-wicket win for Pakistan against New Zealand in the third T20I. Nawaz credits his captain and teammates for their support and encouragement, after facing consecutive ducks in the previous two matches. Pakistan and New Zealand will face off in the fourth T20I at the Mount Maunganui on March 23.
In the third T20I of the ongoing series between Pakistan and New Zealand, Pakistani bowler Abrar Ahmed was heavily criticised for his expensive spell. Despite picking up two wickets in his third over, Ahmed conceded 43 runs and became a trending topic on social media for his poor performance. This is not the first time Ahmed has been ridiculed for his bowling, as he also received backlash for his send-off to an Indian player in a previous tournament.
Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has joined the ranks of legendary speedsters Shoaib Akhtar and Sohail Tanvir in the list of most maiden overs bowled by a Pakistani bowler in T20I cricket. Afridi's impressive performance in the second T20I against New Zealand earned him a spot in the top five of the list. The young star started off the 135-run defence with a maiden over to Tim Seifert, showcasing his talent and potential for the national team.
In a thrilling second T20I between New Zealand and Pakistan, Tim Seifert stole the show with his explosive knock of 44 runs. After a slow start, Seifert unleashed his fury on Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi, hitting him for five sixes in a single over. His fireworks propelled New Zealand to a strong position, leaving Pakistan struggling in the chase.