After losing the 50 overs World Cup to England in a controversial contest two years ago, New Zealand -- a country of just 5.1 million people -- finally won its first world silverware in cricket. Arguably, the biggest trophy of them all. The World Test Championship.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Hyderabad on Monday
RCB's young Indian debutant Vijaykumar Vyshak produced a brilliant spell on debut.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bangalore on Saturday
'From a responsibility point of view, all the Indian players will have the responsibility during the IPL to keep a watch on their fitness and their workloads'
Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli was all praise for Harshal Patel's match-winning bowling performance in Chennai on Friday, terming him their designated death bowler in IPL 2021.
Selection committee will leave it on Kohli to decide whether he needs a break or continue playing.
Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to the IPL 2024 title, could be headed for the players' auction after failing to make a breakthrough in negotiations, while K L Rahul is also unlikely to be retained by LSG.
Star batsman Virat Kohli's maiden T20 hundred went in vain as Gujarat Lions produced a clinical batting display to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets in an IPL match in Rajkot on Sunday.
AB de Villiers combined with Mandeep Singh for a game-changing partnership as Royal Challengers Bangalore eliminated Rajasthan Royals following a crushing 71-run victory, in the Indian Premier League in Pune, on Wednesday.
Images from Friday's IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders, in Bengaluru.
South African stalwarts AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn still have plenty to offer at this year's Indian Premier League despite their recent lack of involvement in top-level cricket, Royal Challengers Bangalore team director Mike Hesson said.
RCB, led by their captain Virat Kohli, has always been a team full of stars but has not played to its potential. After reaching the final in 2016, it has had three forgettable seasons.
For Rajkumar Sharma, a coach is no different from a parent and that's why he has been "protective" about Virat Kohli, keeping a close watch on the progress of his "son" during his formative years. Sharma, who will be conferred with the prestigious Dronacharya Award, has been the Indian Test captain's coach since he was 10 years old. "It's a huge honour which increases your responsibility to produce not one but many more Virats. I still remember the day when a 10-year-old Virat came to my coaching camp. Today as an Indian captain when he comes for a net session, I don't find any difference. He is still the same old little Virat for me. Nothing has changed for him," the 51-year-old former first-class cricketer told PTI on Tuesday.
Devdutt Padikkal stroked a sparkling 63 from 45 balls, inclusive of a six and six fours, to propel RCB to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals.
As the auction approaches, here are the 10 wicketkeeper-batters who are poised to attract significant attention making them among the most sought-after players for IPL 2025.
Kolkata Knight Riders rode on a brilliant all-round showing from Australia's Chris Lynn to score a dramatic victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League match, in Sharjah, on Thursday night. After propping the Kolkata innings with a 31-ball 45, the 24-year-old Australian pulled off an acrobatic catch at the deep mid-wicket boundary line to dismiss A B de Villiers in the last over of the match, and RCB, chasing 151 for victory, fell short by two runs.
Devdutt Padikkal seems to have impressed two of the most important figures in Indian cricket after the opener's whirlwind century powered Royal Challengers Bangalore to their fourth successive win in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.
Pumped up after a thrilling win over the smooth-sailing Chennai Super Kings, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will take on the resurgent Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Images from Friday's IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad, in Abu Dhabi.
AB de villiers enthralled the crowd with a whirlwind unbeaten 39-ball 90 to power Royal Challengers Bangalore to a convincing six-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils
Karn Sharma's brilliant effort in the field saw Axar Patel's strong knock come to an end.
For Virat Kohli, loyalty is paramount in relationships and that is why he believes that his bond with childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma and his IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore is forever. "In relationships, I always look at loyalty. From 1998, I had only one coach (Rajkumar Sharma) and that's never going to change. I have played for one franchise in the IPL (RCB) and that's also never going to change," Kohli said at the launch of a new book on him 'Driven' written by veteran journalist Vijay Lokapally. Sitting alongside legends like Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag and Anil Kumble, Kohli revealed that even now when he is at the height of his popularity as an international cricketer, one person he is scared of is his coach Sharma.
As for the home side, Kolkata Knight Riders' quality might appear thin on paper in absence of their captain Shreyas Iyer and Shakib Al Hasan, but coach Chandrakant Pandit firmly backed the team to do well.
Images from Saturday's IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Abu Dhabi.
Twitterati insisted that Rohit Sharma should lead India in the ICC Men's cricket World Cup.
At the start of the auction on Sunday, Punjab Kings had the highest funds at Rs 110.5 crore, which decreased to Rs 10.9 crore before Day 2 on Monday.
RCB might show interest in KL Rahul.
Royal Challengers Bangalore may have faltered against Sunrisers Hyderabad after notching up a win in their first game, but captain Virat Kohli expects a complete turnaround once Adam Milne and Mitchell Starc recover from their respective injuries.
Images from the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Mumbai, on Thursday.
"There's nothing to do with the pitch but both the teams bowled well. We did well in both spin and pace departments. But then it's part of the game. One day you do well and on another day nothing goes your way," Negi said at the post-match news conference on Sunday.
Arguably among the best in his trade across cricketing generations, star India speedster Jasprit Bumrah celebrated his 30th birthday on Wednesday.
Dhoni has earned over Rs 137 crore by playing the IPL.
'...whether he is a top player or not, it doesn't matter.' 'If I go by a player's name I won't be able to bowl at my best.' 'For me he is just a batter, and my only focus is where I need to land the ball.'
Citing Kohli's record in the Indian Premier League, Gambhir said a skipper's effectiveness is tested when you don't have the services of several talented players.
'Virat has been helping me a lot on different occasions'
Mumbai Indians had an off day on the field with below par bowling and catching performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 45 runs in their opening match of the Indian Premier League.
Rishabh Pant was appointed captain of Delhi Capitals at the start of the season after regular skipper Shreyas Iyer, under whom the team reached final for the first time in the last edition, was out of action due to a horrific shoulder dislocation that required a surgery.
IMAGES from the IPL 2022 game between Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals in Pune on Tuesday.
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