Having opted to bowl first, Delhi Capitals will aim to secure two vital points when they take on a faltering Kolkata Knight Riders in their upcoming Indian Premier League clash on Tuesday. With the tournament entering its decisive phase, Delhi will be keen to avoid any further stumbles after enduring two losses in their previous four games, including a disappointing defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday. At the top of the order, Abhishek Porel has brought a sense of urgency with his aggressive strokeplay. However, veteran Faf du Plessis, who struggled in his comeback match, will need to quickly adapt to the slower conditions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium if he is to make a meaningful contribution. KL Rahul, Delhi’s leading run-scorer this season, found it difficult to accelerate against spin during the last match. Yet, the experienced campaigner will be confident of taking the attack to KKR’s formidable spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. KKR, on the other hand, will look to regroup after a disappointing run that has seen them collect just seven points so far. Placed seventh in the standings, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side is in urgent need of a turnaround, having suffered back-to-back defeats and a washout in their previous three games. Issues have surfaced across all departments for Kolkata. Their batting unit remains unsettled, particularly at the top, where the constant rotation between Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz alongside Sunil Narine has failed to provide stability. Much of the scoring responsibility has fallen on Rahane and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi. The middle order, comprising Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, and Ramandeep Singh, has failed to consistently deliver, further compounding KKR’s struggles with the bat. Bowling has also proven to be a weak link for the Knight Riders. Their inability to strike early in the innings has allowed opposition teams to post commanding totals. A glaring example came in their last match against Punjab Kings, where they conceded a 120-run opening stand in a rain-curtailed game. Delhi’s fielding woes, meanwhile, were exposed in their loss to RCB, with Porel dropping a critical catch of Krunal Pandya, an error that cost them dearly. With both teams eager to bounce back, Tuesday’s fixture promises to be a high-stakes encounter with potential playoff implications.
29 April,2025 07:21 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) officially unveiled a stellar line-up of icon players for the eagerly awaited T20 Mumbai League 2025, with India stars Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Ajinkya Rahane leading the roster. Returning after a six-year hiatus, the third edition of the T20 Mumbai League is scheduled to be held at the iconic Wankhede Stadium from May 26 to June 8. The league, widely regarded as one of India’s premier domestic franchise-based T20 competitions, is set for a grand revival featuring some of the finest cricketing talent from Mumbai. Joining the marquee trio as icon players are Sarfaraz Khan, Shardul Thakur, Prithvi Shaw, Shivam Dube, and Tushar Deshpande. Notably, all eight players have donned the Indian jersey, showcasing the remarkable strength and depth of Mumbai’s cricketing legacy. Ajinkya Naik, President of MCA, expressed pride and excitement about the return of the league and its high-profile player line-up. “We are delighted to unveil eight icon players who have brought immense pride to Mumbai with their performances on both the domestic and international stage. They represent the spirit, legacy and excellence of Mumbai cricket. Their presence will not only inspire and mentor emerging talent but also serve as a valuable learning opportunity for them as we remain committed to discovering and promoting the next generation of India’s cricketing stars. Having these players in the league will also raise its stature and provide fans with a thrilling and memorable experience,” he stated. As per the tournament format, each franchise will be permitted to select one icon player for their squad, ensuring a blend of experience and star power. The MCA is expected to announce the auction date shortly. Historically, the T20 Mumbai League has served as a springboard for young cricketers to make their mark alongside established players. The 2025 edition has already generated immense enthusiasm, with more than 2,800 players registering for the tournament. This season will feature eight franchises: North Mumbai Panthers, ARCS Andheri, Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, Namo Bandra Blasters, Eagle Thane Strikers, and Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs. The league will also welcome two new teams, SoBo Mumbai Falcons and Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals.
29 April,2025 06:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIt all began as India were leading the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. On November 13, 2014, the then Team India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first in the fourth ODI against their distant rivals. With the series already in the bag, Rohit Sharma opened the innings with Ajinkya Rahane. The duo delivered a strong start to the Indian team despite Lanka having the likes of Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera and others. With Rahane smashing boundaries all around the ground, he misjudged a delivery from Mathews and got hit on the pads. The right-hander's innings ended with a score of 28 runs in 24 balls, including six boundaries. Later, India lost another quick wicket of Ambati Rayudu on just eight runs. Also Read: DC vs KKR, IPL 2025: Dream11 prediction, probable playing XIs, head-to-head, injuries and more Before Rahane's wicket, Rohit was dropped on just four runs, but who knew that his dropped catch would turn out to be a nightmare for the Lankan bowlers. The veteran was later joined by skipper Kohli. The two Indian stalwarts lived up to the expectations as Kohli played a knock of 66 runs and Rohit went on to smash a record-breaking double ton. The Eden Gardens witnessed a batting masterclass from two different players. Kohli, a technically sound batsman who believes in finding gaps instead of blind slogging was accompanied by Rohit, who is known to punish a bad delivery coming his way. With Rohit expressing himself freely on the Eden's pitch, he turned the Lankan bowlers into spectators. Other than fours, the right-hander received a label of 'Hitman' following his display of humongous sixes. With Kohli well-settled in the middle, Rohit made sure to keep the scoreboard moving. With the bat raised up and an approach full of aggression, Rohit took 151 deliveries to reach the celebrated three figures (201) in style. Wasting no time, unsatisfied Rohit took less than 30 balls to complete 264 runs. With his impressive strokes, he continued to clear the boundary rope and scripted his name for one of the most iconic knocks ever played in the history of the format. His knock ended with a score of 264 runs off 173 balls, which was laced with 33 boundaries and nine maximums.
29 April,2025 06:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRepresenting Rajasthan Royals, batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi on Monday etched his name in cricketing history by becoming the youngest player to score a century in senior men’s T20 cricket. Aged just 14 years and 32 days, Suryavanshi powered Rajasthan Royals to a dominant victory over Gujarat Titans in the IPL, lighting up Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium with a breathtaking innings. The left-handed batter, who made his IPL debut on April 19, unleashed a fearless assault on the Titans’ bowling attack, racing to a century in just 35 deliveries. His explosive knock featured seven boundaries and an astonishing 11 sixes, leaving the opposition stunned and the crowd in awe. Suryavanshi eventually fell for 101 off 38 balls, bowled by pacer Prasidh Krishna, but not before receiving a standing ovation from the stadium and the Royals’ dugout for his heroic performance. By achieving this milestone, Suryavanshi broke the previous record held by Vijay Zol, who scored a century at 18 years and 118 days for Maharashtra in a domestic T20 match against Mumbai in 2013. While the cricketing world celebrated the teenager’s landmark achievement, social media users took note of a moment involving Rajasthan Royals regular captain Sanju Samson, with a few expressing disappointment over visuals showing him seated on the bench while the rest of the team stood to applaud Suryavanshi’s hundred. Nah😭😭it's Real Man why Samson is so salty, look at the video 😭pic.twitter.com/f0LnlEtklK https://t.co/PbQZwxEbtl — ViJa¥ (@v_Tweetzs) April 28, 2025 Sanju Samson watching Vaibhav Suryavanshi bat pic.twitter.com/5Qq6jjh5r7 — Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) April 28, 2025 Someone was really sad when everyone was giving a standing ovation to Vaibhav Suryavanshi 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/tHN6ncy0am — Dhruv (@I_m_dhruv_) April 28, 2025 However, those initial impressions were soon corrected. Other fans later shared images confirming that Samson did, in fact, rise to his feet to congratulate the young star, dispelling any claims of indifference from the skipper. Interestingly, some fans noted that Vaibhav was actually using Samson's bat during his innings. Sanju Samson's reaction on Vaibhav Suryavanshi 🩷. Also, Vaibhav was seen playing with the bat gifted and signed by Samson. But Pant PR circulating video that he is insecure of him. Poor fanbase always want it create controversy and trying to play insecure gimmick on him 😂. pic.twitter.com/AqJgoBDexJ — 🧢🩷 (@Rosh_met_Sanju) April 29, 2025 Vaibhav Suryavanshi is actually playing with Sanju Samson’s bat and these guys are spreading unwanted hatred on him Why this sudden hate for Sanju out of nowhere even when he’s injured? Some negative PR campaign going on against Sanju I guess 👎👎👎pic.twitter.com/QJyHT6u2wl https://t.co/HGj0kNCzYk — Sanju Samson Fans Page (@SanjuSamsonFP) April 29, 2025 Affectionately nicknamed 'Boss Baby' by commentators for his youthful appearance and mature batting approach, Suryavanshi exudes confidence beyond his years. Speaking after the match, he emphasised his fearless mindset at the crease, stating he has 'no fear' when facing the world’s top bowlers. The Royals secured the teenage sensation in the IPL auction for 130,500 dollards (Rs 1.1 crore) while he was still just 13 years old. He made an immediate impact on debut against Lucknow Super Giants, entering the game as an impact substitute and announcing his arrival in style by smashing his very first ball, a flat-batted six over extra cover, off pacer Shardul Thakur.
29 April,2025 06:13 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentThe 48th clash of the IPL 2025 will be played between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Ahead of the match, KKR will expect their premier all-rounder Andre Russell to make vital contributions with the willow. Despite getting strong starts, Kolkata has been struggling to hold onto it in the middle-order. Axar Patel and Co. will look to get on the winning track and get an early edge in the playoffs race. With KL Rahul in the middle-order, the Capitals need to look for a batsman who can play a supporting role alongside Rahul. Additionally, with the return of Faf du Plessis, DC will expect strong start to their innings. DC vs KKR, IPL 2025: Full squads Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (c), KL Rahul, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Karun Nair, Abhishek Porel, Tristian Stubbs, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Mukesh Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Vipraj Nigam, Dushmanta Chameera, Donovan Ferreira, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari. Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Chetan Sakariya. Also Read: IPL 2025: Vaibhav Suryavanshi backed by coach Manish Ojha for national team selection DC vs KKR, IPL 2025: Dream11 prediction Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abhisek Porel Batters: Tristan Stubbs, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ajinkya Rahane All-rounders: Sunil, Narine, Axar Patel (c) Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Mitchell Starc DC vs KKR, IPL 2025: Predicted XI Delhi Capitals: Faf du Plessis, Abhishek Porel, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel(c), Vipraj Nigam, Mitchel Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera. Kolkata Knight Riders: Sunil Narine, Rahamanullah Gurbaz, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russel, Vaibhav Arora, Venkatesh Iyer, Rovman Powell, Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy DC vs KKR, IPL 2025: Injuries and unavailability No injuries have been reported by either team. DC vs KKR, IPL 2025: Head-to-head records So far, both teams have had 34 encounters against each other, out of which Kolkata has the upper hand with 18 victories. On the other hand, Delhi has come victorious on 15 occasions. One match between the KKR and DC ended with no result.
29 April,2025 05:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe IPL 2025 is all set to witness its 48th clash, which will be played between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The Axar Patel-led Delhi will enter the clash on the back of a loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the previous match. On the other hand, Kolkata, with just three wins, will aim for a major turnaround. Ahead of the match, Karun Nair is expected to make valuable contributions in the middle-order. DC's dugout will heavily rely on in-form KL Rahul. From KKR's perspective, Andre Russell and Rinku Singh's performance will be under scrutiny. The duo has hardly contributed in any of KKR's matches. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane has been delivering crucial knocks in every game possible, but has been struggling to receive support from the other end. Also Read: IPL 2025: Vaibhav Suryavanshi backed by coach Manish Ojha for national team selection DC vs KKR, IPL 2025: Where to watch Star Sports remains the official broadcaster of IPL 2025, providing extensive coverage across multiple channels: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 2 Hindi, Star Sports 2 Hindi HD, Star Sports Khel, and Star Sports 3. DC vs KKR, IPL 2025: Full Squads Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (c), KL Rahul, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Karun Nair, Abhishek Porel, Tristian Stubbs, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Mukesh Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Vipraj Nigam, Dushmanta Chameera, Donovan Ferreira, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari. Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Chetan Sakariya. DC vs KKR, IPL 2025: Pitch and weather report As of now, Delhi's weather reads to be at 38 degrees Celsius. Considering the previous matches, the Delhi pitch has been favouring spinners in the IPL 2025. The clash promises to be a run fest following the venue's shorter boundaries.
29 April,2025 05:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWhen Rajasthan Royals' 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi played a record-shattering innings in Jaipur, few could have anticipated the sheer dominance he would display. His blistering knock left Gujarat Titans completely outclassed, with even their captain Shubman Gill unable to contain the onslaught. Reflecting on the performance, Gill acknowledged the youngster’s brilliance but appeared to attribute it partly to fortune. “It was his [lucky] day, you know? His hitting was just tremendous and I think he made full use of his day,” Gill remarked in a post-match interview with host broadcaster JioStar following Rajasthan’s emphatic eight-wicket victory. Gill, who was substituted out during the second innings, watched from the sidelines as the left-handed batter tore into the Titans’ bowling lineup with ruthless efficiency. However, his assessment didn’t sit well with former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja, now part of the IPL 2025 commentary panel, who expressed displeasure at Gill’s reference to luck. “But a 14-year-old to believe in himself, the amount that he believes in himself, and to take it that far, even if it's, you know, one day, like some player on television just said, ‘oh, it was just his lucky day’,” Jadeja responded.. Suryavanshi has rapidly etched his name into the history books. Not only is he the youngest player to score both a half-century and a century in IPL, or any T20 format, but he also now holds the record for the fastest IPL century by an Indian, reaching the milestone in just 35 balls. His 101 off 38 deliveries was a display of pure power and precision, featuring seven boundaries and a staggering 11 sixes. With a phenomenal strike rate of 265.78, he matched Murali Vijay’s record for most sixes by an Indian in an IPL innings. Notably, 94 of his 101 runs came through boundaries, equating to a boundary-percentage of 93.06, surpassing even Abhishek Sharma’s previous best of 92.45 percent during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match for Punjab. Initially acquired by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.1 crore, Suryavanshi was expected by many to spend most of the season on the bench. (With inputs from PTI)
29 April,2025 04:39 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentIn the IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest centurion in the league's history. Following his heroics, Suryavanshi's coach, Manish Ojha, feels that the 14-year-old will be a part of India's T20I set up and with this knock, he has taken the first step towards the goal. "As I said earlier, he will be part of the T20 Indian team, so he has taken the first step towards that goal. The aggressive style he displayed and the confidence with which he was playing were commendable and a matter of great pride for me as a coach," Ojha told ANI.At the age of 14, when other youngsters are busy playing video games, Suryavanshi showcased his skills by taking on some of the best bowlers in the IPL 2025. With his 35-ball knock, the left-hander also became the fastest Indian player to score a century in the IPL.Suryavanshi's knock ended with a score of 101 runs in 38 balls, including seven boundaries and 11 maximums. Shouldering him was Yashasvi Jaiswal, who stayed unbeaten on 70 runs. Skipper Riyan Parag, too, returned to the pavilion unbeaten after scoring 32 runs. "He respects the good ball and punishes the bad ball. This has been his batting tendency right from the beginning," added the coach. Also Read: IPL 2025: Top five fastest centuries in league's historyOn Tuesday, Royals chased the target of 210 runs in 15.5 overs for the loss of just two wickets. In the first essay of the match, GT opening batsman Sai Sudharsan played a knock of 39 runs off 30 balls. His knock was laced with four boundaries and a maximum. Skipper Shubman Gill scored 84 runs in 50 balls, including five boundaries and four maximums. Shouldering Gill was Jos Buttler, who registered an unbeaten half-century in 26 balls. He smashed three boundaries and four maximums.RR will face Mumbai Indians (MI) in their upcoming IPL 2025 match on May 1 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Currently, the side is placed in the eighth position with three wins and seven defeats. (With ANI Inputs)
29 April,2025 04:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans (GT), Rajasthan Royals (RR) young talent, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, smashed 101 runs in just 38 balls, which was laced with seven boundaries and 11 maximums. With this, he also became the league's youngest centurion at 14 years and 32 days. Speaking about his century, the youngster said, "It is a very good feeling, it is my first 100 in the IPL and in the third innings. It is a very good feeling, I had been practising for the IPL for the last three-four months and the results are now showing up. It was my dream to score a century in the IPL, as I said before I had been working hard for many days and the results were visible on the ground". Also Read: IPL 2025: Kevin Pietersen backs KL Rahul for India T20I recall During the match, Suryavanshi stitched a partnership of 166 runs in 12 overs with Yashasvi Jaiswal. He credited Jaiswal for making the batting look easier. "I enjoy batting with him as he keeps talking positive things and keeps telling me what to do, so batting becomes easier," he said. Rajasthan's stand-in captain Riyan Parag expressed his views on Suryavanshi by saying, "It was incredible. We spent two months with him and seen what we can do and to do it against world-class bowlers against GT, words can't express". After the youngster's century, head coach Rahul Dravid forgot his crutches in excitement and stood without any support to cheer Suryavanshi. Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill was nothing short of praise for Vaibhav. "It was Suryavanshi's day, his hitting was tremendous and he made full use of it. I think they took the game away from us in the powerplay, credit to them for that," Gill said."We could have done a couple of things better, but it's easy to say those things when sitting out, some chances came out way and we didn't take them." "I sat out because I felt a back spasm, didn't want to take a chance," he said about his absence in the field in GT's fielding innings. (With PTI Inputs)
29 April,2025 01:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer England cricketer Kevin Pietersen said that he believes KL Rahul deserves a place in India’s T20I setup, citing the batter’s remarkable improvement in white-ball cricket over the past few years. Pietersen also suggested that Rahul should be India's first-choice wicketkeeper in the shortest format. “I would bat KL at four for India in T20 cricket,” said Pietersen during a post-match press conference following Delhi Capitals’ loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as quoted by the ICC. Rahul has not featured in a T20I for India since their semi-final exit against England in the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, his consistent IPL performances have reignited discussions about his potential return. Also Read: Team India-autographed bat, Jaiswal’s willow, Pant’s helmet for Chappell Foundation auction In IPL 2024, Rahul amassed 520 runs, finishing as the tournament’s seventh-highest run-scorer. In the ongoing IPL 2025 season, he has already scored 364 runs in eight matches, including three half-centuries. Pietersen emphasised the depth in India's top-order options, including stars like Suryakumar Yadav, but argued that Rahul’s adaptability and experience make him ideal for the middle order. “You guys (India) have plenty of opening batters—Surya bats at the top, among others—but with the way KL Rahul is playing right now, he’d be my first choice to bat at No. 4 and keep wickets for India,” the 44-year-old stated. He also praised Rahul’s willingness to evolve as a cricketer. “It’s very, very difficult to adapt. The way he’s accepted the need for change and implemented it speaks volumes about the kind of person he is. He’s incredibly positive—in his training, mindset, and even how he talks about the game. That’s KL Rahul,” Pietersen added. In Delhi Capitals’ recent IPL 2025 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rahul scored a steady 41 off 39 balls, including three boundaries. Despite his efforts, DC lost the match by six wickets. (With ANI inputs)
29 April,2025 01:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi has thrown his hat in the ring for the post of spin bowling coach at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE) that was vacated by Sairaj Bahutule. Also Read: Confident India look to keep winning run intact against SA The COE was earlier known as the National Cricket Academy when it was based out of the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. It remains in the city but is now operational from a new location after BCCI purchased land to build a more expansive facility. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
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