Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill is optimistic about sneaking into the IPL play-offs, even though odds are heavily against them despite the 35-run victory over Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2025 after Game 39.
Pace great James Anderson believes the new-look Indian team will prove to be a strong opposition for England in the upcoming five-Test series.
The retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin has opened the door for other spin all-rounders to step up, and Vidyut is confident that Washington Sundar could be the one to watch.
With 288 runs at a strike rate of 225, Nicholas Pooran is the top run-getter in IPL 2025, while Mohammed Siraj has been brilliant in Powerplay overs with 10 wickets in five games.
India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is up and running in Beckenham, putting in the hard yards before the upcoming five high-stakes Tests against England, slated to kick off on June 20 at Headingley.
Going into the penultimate game of the rubber, the pressing question is whether to tweak their conservative approach and bolster the spin department by playing left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav at the cost of a spin all-rounder.
Gujarat Titans were uncharacteristically sloppy in the field, missing four chances -- including three catches and a stumping.
For the fourth-placed Titans, Shubman has also found a perfect foil in left-handed B Sai Sudharsan as opening partner. On his part, Sudharsan has topped the charts for the Titans with 504 runs in 10 matches at 50.40 and a strike rate of 154.12 with five half-centuries.
GT not worried about Buttler's absence in playoffs, confident others will make big impact: Wade
Shubman Gill's return to his former IPL home was the stage for a batting masterclass. His near-flawless 90 off 55 balls, brimming with elegance, control, and quiet authority.
IPL 2025 recap: From Kohli and RCB conquering final frontier to decline of champions
The fringe and aspiring bunch will look to own the elevated Duleep Trophy stage as the red-ball competition returns to its traditional zonal format and marks the start of India's domestic cricket season.
Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Friday said star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was still recuperating from a back injury and that the team was waiting for him to be cleared by the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
England head coach Brendon McCullum believes India have arrived well-prepared and full of belief for the upcoming five-match Test series
Who do you think should be part of the Indian team for the first Test against England?
Skipper Shreyas Iyer led from the front on his debut for Punjab Kings with a scintillating knock, while Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler fought bravely for Gujarat Titans.
A delighted Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill credited his team's strong start to the IPL season to a collective effort, with everyone chipping in.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 1st Test between England and India at Headingley in Leeds on Friday
Yashasvi Jaiswal, once the toast of Indian cricket and Rajasthan Royals' poster boy, now finds himself in a worrying form slump in the ongoing IPL 2025
Flamboyant keeper-batter Ishan Kishan walked into the middle and he looked in the mood as he played some impressive shots, including pulling O'Neill for a six.
The victory took India A to the top of the points table with a total of 12 points from three matches, crowing them as the eventual winners.
'Those who are very good at playing along the ground are also very good at playing in the air in same direction.'
The usually mobbed Indian cricket team likes training in a relaxed atmosphere and that was evident in their body language as the players went about their business in their only practice session at the Kent County Cricket Ground before the fourth Test in Manchester.
Sai Sudharsan looked orgainsed, certainly created impact: Anil Kumble
India's young guns are fearless and mentally hardened by the IPL exposure. But true mettle will be tested when adversity strikes -- and this time, there will be no Kohli to stir up the crowd, no Rohit to deliver a captaincy masterstroke, and no Ashwin to conjure wickets out of nowhere.
How the Indian players fared in the five-Test series in England.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad on Saturday
Although Mumbai lost the game by three wickets -- Bumrah's efforts stood out as a beacon of brilliance.
The left-arm quick, introduced as an Impact substitute in place of the seasoned opener Rohit Sharma, returned figures of 1 for 28 in 3.3 overs, as Mumbai Indians beat Gujarat Titans in the IPL eliminator in Mullanpur on Friday.
With no foreign tours for the next one year, Easwaran's Test debut looks unlikely with N Jagadeesan being looked at as a potential third opener.
The winning culture that Mumbai Indians have built over the years with their core group of players does help them perform in high-pressure situations, said head coach Mahela Jayawardene.
"He needs to score a bit more runs when it's seaming and swinging": Sourav Ganguly urges Shubman Gill to step up as captain, batter in testing English conditions
Chennai Super Kings bowler Ravichandran Ashwin feels the unfairness towards bowlers has become hugely apparent.
The likes of Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh will get another opportunity to enhance their red-ball credentials when the final round of Duleep Trophy matches begin in Anantapur
Yashasvi Jaiswal entered the first Test against England at Headingley with a sparkling century. He exited it under intense scrutiny - not for his batting, but for a torrid time in the slip cordon.
From Jasprit Bumrah's much-anticipated return to the all-rounder conundrum, the playing XI could very well hold the key to seizing control of this historic series.
'Most of the batters performed. I would say that is a very good sign going forward. Apart from this you have got three quality batters who are not even part of the squad -- Shreyas (Iyer), Sarfaraz (Khan) and (Devdutt) Padikkal.'
'There is no question on the value that he brings to the side. But the management and board need to discuss how to use him...'
The joy of watching Buttler is in him using his batting acumen to the fullest. He's got the big shots but he knows when to pull them out, his presence of mind and craftiness in pacing his innings is another of his plus points.
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