Kohli has constructed a mini hot streak, making four fifties in his last five innings and pushing for Orange Cap with 443 runs.
IPL 2025 recap: From Kohli and RCB conquering final frontier to decline of champions
While CSK dropped as many as five catches, a couple of them sitters, Punjab were not too far behind as they floored four chances.
Ashwin's decision too came as a bit of a surprise, especially considering the team's reliance on him.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings in New Delhi, on Tuesday.
A struggling Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be aiming to break their losing streak when they face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. CSK are currently ninth in the standings with one win and four losses, while KKR are in sixth position with two wins and three defeats. The home team will be hoping to turn around their fortunes at Chepauk, which has not been as advantageous this season as it has been in the past. CSK will need to adapt to the changed conditions and rely on their spinners to perform well at a venue where they have traditionally dominated. Meanwhile, KKR will be looking to bounce back from a narrow loss to the Lucknow Super Giants and secure a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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.
Varun Chakravarthy, a key player for both the Indian team and the Kolkata Knight Riders, emphasizes the importance of consistency and reveals he is working on new variations to his spin bowling.
Ace Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is now in a wave of a storm for what appeared to be criticising the government of Tamil Nadu.
A clinical Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) thrashed a completely disoriented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by eight wickets in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Chennai on Friday.
Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy termed his comeback into the India side after three long years as a "rebirth" and "emotional moment" even as he thanked legendary R Ashwin for helping him grow in confidence during last edition of Tamil Nadu Premier League.
New Zealand's bowlers exploited the favorable conditions at the Wankhede Stadium, decimating India's top order in the early overs.
The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to see bowlers playing a crucial role in the success of teams.
'Normally, you tend to look at the end of the series. That's it. In the middle, it is not usual.'
Gautam Gambhir on Wednesday dismissed concerns surrounding Indian batters' recent struggle against quality spin bowling, saying that the line-up has enough firepower to take on the best in the world.
Sounding a warning to rival teams, India's key strike bowler R Ashwin said he was bowling in one of his best phases, recalling his mother's words to perform or perish when he was undergoing a lean phase a year ago. "Definitely, I am bowling at one of my best phases in my life. I would not say that this is the best. Best times could be lying ahead you never know," he told reporters in Chennai.
With more than five months to go for the next Test series, many in the BCCI believe that there is no need to take a decision right away.
Rohit Sharma will either open or bat at number three in the Adelaide Test against Australia, reckoned former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh
Rishabh Pant on Wednesday overtook his superstar India teammate Virat Kohli to reach the sixth spot in the ICC Test rankings for batters.
'We have nothing but respect for every Indian cricketer who takes the field on Friday'
The other Indian bowlers who have taken 300 Test wickets or more include Anil Kumble (619), R Ashwin (524), Kapil Dev (434), Harbhajan Singh (417), Ishant Sharma (311) and Zaheer Khan (311).
Ashwin acknowledged the emotional turmoil he was experiencing, despite his calm demeanour.
Ravichandran Ashwin's wife Prithi Narayanan penned a heartfelt tribute for her husband following his recent retirement from international cricket, saying "it is time to set the burden of being you down" and embrace life beyond the game.
Just-retired R Ashwin's father Ravichandran kicked up a controversy on Thursday by claiming that "humiliation" could have been a reason for his son's decision to call it quits but the veteran off-spinner made light of the "dad comment", blaming it on lack of media training.
R Ashwin says he has figured out ways to tackle Australian batting mainstay Steve Smith in the upcoming five-match Test series
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday approved 139 Padma awards including seven Padma Vibhushans, 19 Padma Bhushans and 113 Padma Shris.
The national selectors on Sunday retained the Indian team, which hammered Bangladesh by 280 runs in the opening Test here, for the second and final match in Kanpur.
With 765 international scalps in his bag, Ashwin is the second-highest wicket-taker from India after Anil Kumble.
The 38-year-old played the day-night Test in Adelaide and picked up one wicket.
Ashwin has had the opportunity to play under the wing of both stars. He pointed out that there isn't a huge gap between Gambhir and Dravid's approach or the passion that the duo shares for Indian cricket.
India spinner R Ashwin said he was surprised with West Indies' decision to bat first on a sticky wicket, even as he returned with a five-wicket haul on the opening day to dismiss the hosts for a paltry 196 in the second cricket Test in Kingston, Jamaica.
Ravichandran Ashwin may not be playing the T20 World Cup, but his daughters Akhira and Adhya are proving to be cricket whizzes!
India's assistant coach also Ryan ten Doeschate also lauded Starc for his excellent display with the pink ball.
Ravindra Jadeja became the seventh Indian bowler to reach the coveted mark during the fourth day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur.
India's 40-4 (win-loss) home record in the last decade is awe-inducing but there is an ever-little crack, which is getting more pronounced in the past three years, particularly in the case of star batter Virat Kohli.
At the end of the first day of play, it is the home side that is firmly in control, and India that is now reduced to chasing the game.
Ashwin took responsibility for India's poor performance in the series, and acknowledged that his own below-par performance has not helped the team's cause.
'Virat and Rohit not playing (Duleep Trophy) was not good for Indian cricket, nor was it good for the two players. Had they played the Duleep Trophy and had some time in the red-ball cricket, things would have been different.'
Ashwin's age is certainly a factor that is being kept in consideration.
The players were presented with special gold medals engraved with the number '50' and the CSK logo, a token of appreciation for their outstanding record at Chepauk.
