The BCCI has released its list of annual player contracts, with the headline being the inclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan in Grade B and C respectively. While Suryakumar Yadav remains in Grade B despite being named T20I captain, there were no major promotions or demotions in the other categories. Interestingly, there are 19 players in Grade C this year, with five new additions including Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Shreyas Iyer returns to the BCCI's central contract list after a year of absence due to a fallout with the selection committee. Along with him, newcomers Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abhishek Sharma make their debut on the list. These changes come after Team India's successful run at the 2025 Champions Trophy, where Iyer emerged as the top scorer. Other notable names include Ishan Kishan who gets a Grade C contract, and MS Dhoni hinting at bringing in younger players in the next IPL season.
After a defeat in their opening game at home, the Kolkata Knight Riders bounced back with a dominant eight-wicket win over the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. Led by Quinton de Kock's unbeaten 97 and strong performances from spinners Moeen Ali and Varun Chakravarthy, KKR capitalized on more favorable conditions away from their home ground at Eden Gardens. However, recent comments from the Eden Gardens pitch curator rejecting the home team's requests have sparked controversy and former cricketers Harsha Bhogle and Simon Doull have spoken out against the lack of home advantage for KKR. Stay updated with the latest IPL 2025 news, including points table, teams, schedule, and live score updates.
Brace yourselves as Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru face off in the opening game of IPL 2025 at the iconic Eden Gardens. Both teams have undergone major changes through the mega auction and will be looking to start off the season with a win. RCB will rely on their star player Virat Kohli, who is set to play his 400th T20 match. KKR, on the other hand, will look to their spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine to lead the way. Don't miss the action live on Star Sports and Jio Hotstar.
Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has predicted that Indian batsman KL Rahul will win the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the IPL 2025. Sehwag believes that Rahul, who was signed by Delhi Capitals for a whopping Rs 14 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, has the potential to be the top run scorer. He also backed spinner Varun Chakaravarthy to be the top wicket-taker, and predicted that Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants will qualify for the playoffs, with LSG eventually winning the IPL title.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma's selection of spinners, including Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy, proved to be the decisive factor in their win against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final. Despite facing a setback with an injury to Patel, Rohit's strategic use of spin bowlers and their stellar performance limited New Zealand to a manageable total, ultimately leading to India's victory.
In the midst of all the hype surrounding Varun Chakravarthy's five-wicket-haul in India's match against New Zealand, Axar Patel's crucial contribution with both the ball and the bat went unnoticed. After being labeled as the 'poor man's Jadeja' for most of his career, Axar made a conscious effort to improve his batting skills in 2022. This transformation was on full display in his unbeaten 64 against the West Indies, giving him the much-needed confidence to finish games. Promoting him to No. 5 ahead of the reliable KL Rahul was a bold move by the team management, but it ultimately paid off as Axar proved to be a dependable finisher for the team.
India's young wrist-spinner Varun Chakravarthy took center stage in the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand with his exceptional bowling performance, picking up two crucial wickets and containing the Kiwi batsmen on a difficult Dubai track. Chakravarthy, who impressed with his stump-to-stump line and variations, was instrumental in India's dominant performance with the ball, along with his spin counterparts. Despite battling a foot injury, Chakravarthy played a vital role in India's victory and credited his success to the mentorship of senior Indian spinners. With this win, India clinched the 2025 Champions Trophy title and secured their spot at the top of the Points Table. Keep following for more updates on this thrilling cricket tournament!
As India and New Zealand face off in the final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, all eyes will be on the leading wicket-takers of the tournament. While Varun Chakaravarthy and Mohammed Shami lead the charts for India, the Kiwis suffered a setback with the withdrawal of Matt Henry. Both teams will be looking to end their drought for an ICC 50-over title and create history. Meanwhile, we take a look at the overall record for most wickets in a Champions Trophy edition.
The Indian team made a strong comeback in the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand on Sunday, thanks to a brilliant partnership between spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. After a flying start by the Kiwi openers, the Indian spin duo removed Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, and Kane Williamson in quick succession, giving India the upper hand in the match. With India's bowling attack successfully countering New Zealand's explosive start, the stage is set for a thrilling final battle between the two teams.