Cricket Australia stated that it will support players' individual decisions on returning to India to feature in the IPL 2025, which was earlier suspended for one week. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced the resumption of the IPL 2025 across six venues from May 17. The dates of the IPL 2025 are clashing with the preparations of the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final scheduled at Lord's on June 11. The development of the Indian league has left Australia and South Africa's regular players in a dilemma, whether to stay in their countries for the preparations of the Lord's final or return to India for the league. "Following the announcement that the IPL will resume on Saturday, Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not," CA said in a statement. Also Read: WTC final: Australia announces squad for Lord's clash against South Africa "Team management will work through preparation implications for the World Test Championship final for those players who choose to play in the remaining IPL matches. "We are maintaining communication with the Australian government and BCCI around security arrangements and safety." The IPL 2025 was suspended due to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. According to the new schedule, the league is set to conclude just eight days before the WTC final, which will be played between Australia and South Africa. In the wake of the unrest, several Australian players, including skipper Pat Cummins and fast bowler Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, have returned home. Only a few former players like Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin, who are part of coaching setups, remain in India. Other coaches, including Justin Langer and Mike Hussey, have returned home amid the rising border tensions. Australian Test players currently involved in the IPL who are likely to be impacted include captain Cummins and Travis Head (both Sunrisers Hyderabad), Starc (Delhi Capitals), and Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru). While SRH are out of the playoff race, second-placed RCB are well-positioned to qualify, and fifth-placed DC remain in contention. (With PTI Inputs)
13 May,2025 12:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India stalwart Virat Kohli recently announced his retirement from the longest format of the game. Following his retirement, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Conor McGregor congratulated the global cricketing star on his incredible Test career. McGregor took to his official social media handle by sharing a story which read, "Enjoy retirement, brother Virat! Huge congrats on a stellar cricket career!". Virat Kohli represented India for 14-long years in Test cricket, in which he dominated every opponent that he faced in whites. Kohli, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of the game, tops the list of Indian cricketers with the most double centuries in Test cricket. Having played 123 Tests, Kohli has scored seven double tons, followed by former cricketer Virender Sehwag, who has six double centuries. Also Read: WTC final: Australia announces squad for Lord's clash against South Africa To date, he stands as the most successful Indian captain in the longest format of the game. The veteran comes second on the list after Sunil Gavaskar to score the most runs in a series by any Indian captain. Kohli has scored 655 runs during the 2016-17 Test series against England. Gavaskar tops the list by 732 runs in the 1978/79 Test series against West Indies. The 36-year-old holds the top spot on the list of most runs scored by an Indian captain in a Test innings. During the Test series against South Africa in 2019, the right-hander registered a score of an unbeaten 254 runs, which to date stands as the highest score by any Indian captain in a Test innings. Virat Kohli led Team India in 68 Test matches and has registered 40 victories, 17 losses and 11 draws. His stint as an Indian captain in Test cricket came to an end with a win percentage of 58.82. Concluding his Test career, Virat featured in 123 matches and scored 9,230 runs. With 30 centuries, the veteran also had 31 half-centuries under his belt. His career best score in the longest format of the game is an unbeaten 254 runs. Under his captaincy, Team India dominated the top spot on the Test team rankings for 42 consecutive months. During the captaincy stint, the Indian team also stayed unbeaten in Test series at home and won 10 out of 11 series under him.
13 May,2025 12:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTwo of the 'Fab Four' players, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, paid tribute to Team India stalwart Virat Kohli, who recently drew curtains on his glorious Test career. One of Kohli's top competitors, Williamson, heaped praise on the Indian by saying that his impact has gone far beyond his numbers. "Congratulations brother, @virat.kohli. What a journey. The numbers are there for everyone to see, but your impact has gone far beyond that. You'll be remembered for pushing the boundaries of the game. That drive and hunger has been an inspiration to all of us," he wrote on Instagram. Taking to Instagram: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kane Williamson (@kane_s_w) Competing with Kohli since the Under-19 days, Williamson credited Team India's star batsman for expressing his authentic self and wished him luck for his new chapter. Also Read: IND vs ENG Tests: Team India tours "Three Lions" without their three tigers "A pleasure to share the field from the U19 days and right through 14 years of test cricket. Gosh, where has all that time gone. It's a credit to you that you expressed your authentic self right from the start through to the end. Respect bro, all the best with the new chapter," he concluded. On the other hand, Australian star batsman shared a story on his official social media handle which read, "Congratulations Virat Kohli on an incredible Test career". Picture Courtesy/Steve Smith's Instagram account Over the past 14 years, Virat Kohli has been India's crisis man in the longest format of the game. His absence has left a huge void in the Indian team, and will expect a newcomer to take the role. Having represented India in 123 Test matches, the stylish right-hander has garnered 9,230 runs with a career best score of an unbeaten 254 runs. With 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, Kohli goes down as one of the greatest players to have ever played the game. To date, Kohli stands as the most successful Indian captain in the longest format of the game. The veteran comes second on the list after Sunil Gavaskar to score the most runs in a series by any Indian captain. Kohli has scored 655 runs during the 2016-17 Test series against England. Gavaskar tops the list by 732 runs in the 1978/79 Test series against West Indies.
13 May,2025 10:57 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Australia has named their squad to lock horns against South Africa at the Lord's, according to a release from Cricket Australia (CA). Cameron Green has returned to the setup after undergoing back surgery. Spinner Matt Kuhnemann has also made the cut in the national team, as Australia announced its squad for the WTC final and the West Indies tour. Sheffield Shield player of the final, Brendan Doggett, has been named a travelling reserve for the 15-player squad, which otherwise features no major surprises from outside the group that beat Sri Lanka 2-0 and India 3-1 last summer. In the WTC final starting from June 11, the Pat Cummins-led Australia will aim to become the first team to win multiple titles when they clash against the "Rainbow Nation". Also Read: When 2016 chief selector Patil was asked to hit the gym by Kohli Previously, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood missed out on the Sri Lanka tour and the Champions Trophy campaign due to injuries. Recently, the pace duo has returned to the action during the IPL 2025. Australia won four of its six series to clinch a spot in its second straight WTC final. It also drew 2-2 with England in the 2023 Ashes and 1-1 with West Indies during the 2023-24 home summer. South Africa topped the standings with eight wins from 12 Tests for a points percentage of 69.44, while Australia's was 67.54 with 13 wins from 19 matches. "The team finished the WTC cycle with an impressive series victory in Sri Lanka following an equally strong summer in defeating India for the first time in a decade," selection chair George Bailey said. "Those series capped a consistent performance across the two-year cycle and now presents us with the incredibly exciting opportunity to defend the World Test Championship." "It means a lot to the group to reach the final, and they are very much looking forward to the challenge South Africa will present at Lord's," Bailey added. Selectors have opted for the same squad for three Tests in the Caribbean with Beau Webster retained as the preferred allrounder following a strong start to his Test career, while Sam Konstas is back in the mix after leaving Sri Lanka early to finish the domestic season with NSW. Australia squad for WTC final: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett. (With ANI Inputs)
13 May,2025 10:57 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVirat Kohli’s decision to end his glittering 123-Test career ahead of the England tour and within five days of Rohit Sharma’s announcement to quit the red-ball format was met with mixed reactions. Former India left-arm spinner and national selector Venkatapathi Raju, in whose tenure under the chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, Kohli broke into the senior team after leading India to a U-19 World Cup triumph in 2008 told mid-day on Monday, “VK18 will be missed.” Also Read: Amorim is Red with embarrassment! Raju added: “We all will miss watching Kohli and his aggression on the field, his scintillating Test hundreds, something we have been used to watching for many years. Kohli has been an advocate of Test cricket. He has been speaking so passionately about Test cricket and its importance that all the contemporary cricketers agreed with him and he earned everybody’s respect for his stance on the longest format.” Asked how this will impact the Indian team, which will have a new captain and which doesn’t have two senior-most players in Kohli and Rohit to fall back upon for guidance, the 55-year-old Raju, who took 93 wickets in 28 Tests and 63 scalps in 53 ODIs between 1990 and 2001, said: “Just to guide the youngsters, they will be missed. When Kohli came into the scene, he had seniors like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman to guide him. It was the learnings from these established seniors that took him far and see where he has ended up.” Raju termed Kohli as a “trendsetter.” “The way he changed his lifestyle to succeed in international cricket, the fitness levels he brought into the team, he also started the trend of growing a beard that every cricketer even at the state level followed,” Raju said.
13 May,2025 09:07 AM IST | Mumbai | G KrishnanIndia’s Virat Kohli, who announced his Test retirement on Monday, is well known for his records on the field, but is a giant off it too, on social media. Looked up to by many, Kohli, is the most-followed Indian on Instagram and the most-followed cricketer globally with over 270 million followers. He is third on the list of most followed athletes, only behind football greats Cristiano Ronaldo (653 million) of Portugal and Argentine Lionel Messi (505 million). Also Read: Ex-selector Raju calls Kohli a trendsetter Kohli’s reach on Instagram is not just in his following, but in interactions as well. Not known to post too often, the few times Kohli does post, it tends to “break the internet.” Kohli’s post on India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024 became the first by an Indian to hit 20 million ‘likes’, surpassing the previous record held by bollywood couple Kiara Advani and Siddharth Malhotra’s wedding announcement post (16 million). The star batter also happens to be the most followed cricketer on X, with over 67 million followers. He leads the way on Facebook too, with over 50 million fans.
13 May,2025 09:06 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentFormer India skipper and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar reckoned that Team India will miss Virat Kohli’s experience during the five-match Test series against England starting at Leeds on June 20. However, Vengsarkar, who was the national chief selector when Kohli made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at Dambulla in 2008, felt that Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket provides an opportunity for youngsters to establish themselves. Kohli, 36, collected 9230 runs from 123 Tests at an average of 46.85. Also Read: Here are Virat Kohli’s top five Test knocks! Dilip Vengsarkar “I would have enjoyed it if both [Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who also announced his Test retirement recently] played the upcoming Test series in England. India are playing five Tests there and to beat England in England is never easy. Rohit and Virat’s skill level would have helped India,” Vengsarkar told mid-day on Monday. “This is an opportunity for Team India’s youngsters to establish themselves by performing well in England,” said the 116-Test veteran. Vengsarkar, who was the first batsman to score three successive Test centuries at Lord’s, hailed Kohli’s mental toughness besides his cricketing abilities. “You quickly understand that he’s a tough player. He and even Rohit, both were like that. Mentally, both are very mature. Their skill level is also very high. They are match-winners, and that’s why they have been able to play for so many years. He [Kohli] was a very good captain and has some impressive big-match temperament. If you look at the India vs Pakistan matches, Virat’s performances are among the best,” said Vengsarkar. Vengsarkar also praised Kohli’s attitude, recalling an episode in July 2008 when he was chief selector during the Emerging Players Tournament. “He [Kohli] was a middle-order batsman then, but when I asked him if he would open the innings, he immediately agreed. That’s why I’ve always liked his attitude. He scored a hundred [120 not out to help India ‘A’ beat New Zealand ‘A’ by seven wickets in Brisbane] while opening but even after reaching his century, he ensured he was at the crease till the match was won. That was really impressive.” The very next month, Kohli made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka.
13 May,2025 08:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure141 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2014 Virat Kohli, leading India for the first time in Test cricket as a stand-in captain in the absence of regular skipper MS Dhoni, led by example with centuries in both innings — 115 and 141 respectively. However, it was his fighting 141 on Day Five against a dominant Australian pace attack that drew the most attention. Chasing 364 for victory, India could have settled for a draw after being 242-2, but the skipper went on with the intent to win. He counter-attacked the Aussie pacers despite wickets falling regularly at the other end, maintaining an aggressive approach. His 175-ball innings included 16 fours and one six. Though India eventually lost the match by 48 runs, Kohli was widely praised for his winning mindset and fearless leadership. 235 vs England, Wankhede, 2016 Kohli delivered his then career-best knock of 235 during the fourth Test against England at the Wankhede Stadium in 2016. With the pitch offering turn, Kohli tackled the English spinners with ease to take control of the game. His superb knock saw India post a mammoth 631 to set up an innings-and-36-run victory. Also Read: Ian Chappell rates THIS knock as Virat Kohli's finest 149 vs England, Edgbaston, 2018 Kohli came into the 2018 series under tremendous pressure after a forgettable 2014 tour of England, where he managed only 134 runs in five Tests at a poor average of 13.40. However, this time, leading India for the first time in English conditions, Kohli stood tall despite wickets falling around him to produce a masterclass, scoring a patient 149 against a potent English attack led by James Anderson and Stuart Broad. The significance of his knock was evident from the fact that the second-highest score for India in the innings was 26, made by opener Shikhar Dhawan. His fighting knock helped the team post 274 all out in the first innings of the opening Test. Though India went on to lose the game by just 31 runs, Kohli’s innings was widely regarded as one of the finest centuries by an Indian in overseas conditions. 153 vs South Africa, Centurion, 2018 Kohli played one of his most challenging innings in overseas conditions during the second Test against South Africa at Centurion in 2018. Coming in at No. 4, he scored a commanding 153 on a lively pitch offering variable bounce. The skipper’s innings included 15 boundaries. Kohli held the innings together with no other Indian batter managing to score a half-century. Despite India’s massive 135-run defeat, Kohli was appreciated for his determination. 254* vs South Africa, Pune, 2019 Kohli smashed his career-best unbeaten 254 in the second Test against South Africa at Pune in 2019. Coming in at 136-2, Kohli tore the Proteas bowling apart. The stylish and aggressive right-handed batter’s nearly eight-hour innings, laced with 33 fours and two maximums, helped India post a massive 601-5 declared, setting up a dominant innings-and-137-run win.
13 May,2025 08:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Rohan KoliIan Chappell’s admiration for Virat Kohli kicked in when the Indian batting great notched up the first of his 30 Test centuries in the fourth and final Test of the 2011-12 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the Adelaide Oval in January 2012. By the time Kohli was back for Test cricket at the South Australian venue, he scored a hundred in each innings. This time, for a lost cause too, but the defeat was not as debilitating as the 2012 Test which India lost by 298 runs. In fact, his second innings century as stand-in captain against Michael Clarke’s men gave India a good chance of winning; his team ending up 48 runs short. Chappell told mid-day from Sydney on Monday that Kohli’s 141 was the best three-figure innings he had seen in a chase. “They [innings of 115 and 141] would definitely be standouts. Kohli was probably near his peak at that stage. The only other knock that would come close to Kohli’s 141 would be Ricky Ponting’s at Old Trafford [156 vs England in 2005].” Also Read: Madan Lal reveals the potential reason behind Virat Kohli's Test retirement Terrific batting approach In his time as a player and later as a broadcaster and journalist, Chappell, the 81-year-old former Australia captain, said: “I did not see some of the old-time players, but guys like [Sunil] Gavaskar onwards, he is in that top bracket.” Chappell interviewed the finest of craftsmen throughout his broadcasting career and an interaction with Kohli Down Under a few years ago proved memorable. “I think we asked him why he didn’t dabble with the fancy shots in T20 cricket and he said he didn’t want those to creep into his game in Test cricket. So that was one outstanding bit, but it was his overall approach towards batting which was very, very good. He had a terrific approach. I don’t think I’ve heard many better than that,” Chappell revealed. Retiring on his own terms Chappell believed that Kohli went out on his own terms. “One of the problems in Indian cricket has always been its inability to let the stars go. In Australia, they will let you know that if you don’t move on, they are going to drop you whereas India hang on to their stars. Kohli has been able to get past the BCCI — apparently they wanted him to keep going. The important thing is that he is one of those rare India players who got out under his own terms and I think that’s terrific.”
13 May,2025 08:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Clayton MurzelloFormer chairman of selectors Madan Lal is taken by surprise by Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket. “I am a bit surprised because there was definitely some cricket left in him. He could have taken a call after the England series. I don’t think his form was the same as five years back, but it’s difficult for it to be the same,” Madan Lal told mid-day on Monday. The former India all-rounder, however, emphasised that Kohli’s decision to quit Test cricket had nothing to do with his form or fitness: “I think he’s mentally tired. Though I feel he could’ve continued for one or two more years, depending on his fitness and performance, I believe that after the last series in Australia, mentally he must have decided this.” Also Read: When 2016 chief selector Patil was asked to hit the gym by Kohli Though Kohli is one of the fittest players in the Indian dressing room, the 1983 World Cup-winner also felt that age may have something to do with this retirement call. “As you get older, there is wear and tear to the body. So, it all depends on how it works for him, whether he’s as fit as before,” he said. Some reports suggested that Kohli was keen to take up the leadership role again in England, but the selectors wanted a younger skipper. Madan Lal however, insisted that Kohli’s call would have had nothing to do with the captaincy aspect. “I will always remember Virat as one of the most intelligent batsmen. In India, you don’t get a lot of players like him. He put a lot of focus on fitness, but I guess one has to face it that it’s tough to handle expectations of the people. Also, I feel he needs to think about his family and other stuff.” The former India and Delhi though felt that the national selectors could have handled things better around the time Kohli quit Test captaincy in 2022, considering India won 40 matches and lost just 17 under him. “I believe the selectors should have handled him better back then. They should have continued with him as skipper for a longer period,” concluded Madan Lal.
13 May,2025 08:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Neeru BhatiaEver heard of a travelling chief selector being told by the captain of a touring team that he should come for gym sessions? This is exactly what happened to Sandeep Patil on his one and only overseas tour as India’s chairman of selectors — in the West Indies in 2016. Patil, who was chairman from 2012 to 2016, told mid-day on Monday that Kohli urged him to hit the gym in Antigua, where India won the opening Test of the four-match series by an innings and 92 runs. Also Read: From street fighter to seasoned statesman! “That trip coincided with my 60th birthday. I had to borrow [fellow selector] Vikram Rathour’s trainers.” Patil revealed this with a slight chuckle while explaining how serious Kohli was about his, and the team’s fitness levels. “Kohli wanted every player to be 100 per cent fit and he led by example. I would see him being the first to enter, and the last to leave the gym. He changed the fitness scenario in Indian cricket. Many a time I saw him exchanging notes with Shankar Basu [Indian team’s former strength and conditioning coach], checking if each player was following his regime. The levels and advantages of fitness were seen on the field be it Tests, ODIs or T20 games. Kohli deserves 100 per cent credit for the current fielding standards, running between wickets and stamina,” said Patil, who watched Kohli from his U-19 days when he was the National Cricket Academy director before becoming chief selector. “He changed from a brash young man to a responsible individual when he was poised to take over from MS Dhoni. Who changed him, I don’t know but he must have realised that he has to change and what a tremendous transformation it was.” Passion was another aspect that Kohli attracted accolades for. “I have not seen an Indian cricketer with so much passion to play and win. His enthusiasm was infectious, he lifted his team. He also faced a lot of criticism but when you are so involved, there will be controversy. I don’t blame him,” said Patil. Kohli’s decision to quit means India will not have his services on next month’s five-match Test tour to England. “Yes, we will miss him. It’s sad that we won’t see him in Test colours, but we must accept and respect his decision,” Patil signed off. 254*Kohli’s highest individual score in Test cricket, achieved vs SA in Pune in 2019
13 May,2025 08:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Clayton MurzelloADVERTISEMENT
