An old video of Jitesh Sharma comparing Romario Shepherd’s strength to a rhino resurfaced after Shepherd’s explosive 14-ball 53 against CSK. Shepherd credited his attacking nature and strength, embracing the ‘rhino’ nickname. He thanked Rajat Patidar and Tim David for their confidence-boosting support, while also acknowledging Dinesh Karthik’s mentorship in improving his batting approach.
Ajinkya Rahane, Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain, chose to bat first after winning the toss against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens. KKR brought in Moeen Ali and Ramandeep Singh, aiming to set a strong total. Rajasthan Royals, led by Riyan Parag, made three changes, including Hasaranga’s return. Rajasthan Royals, already out of playoff contention, made three changes to their line-up.
Punjab Kings have signed Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen as a replacement for Glenn Maxwell, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2025 IPL season due to a fractured finger. Owen, a 23-year-old Tasmanian, joins PBKS for Rs 3 crore, bringing his aggressive batting style and seam-bowling abilities to the team.
Virat Kohli etched his name in IPL history, becoming the first player to score 500+ runs in eight seasons. His recent 62 off 33 balls against CSK propelled him to the Orange Cap. Kohli now leads IPL 2025 with 505 runs, averaging 63.13. RCB edged out CSK in a thrilling match, marking their first league double over their rivals.
Despite valiant efforts from Ayush Mhatre (94) and Ravindra Jadeja (77*), Chennai Super Kings fell short by two runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-scoring chase. The loss, CSK’s ninth, keeps them at the bottom. During the match, MS Dhoni expressed frustration with Khaleel Ahmed, who had a forgettable day with the ball.
MS Dhoni’s captaincy and batting form are under scrutiny as Chennai Super Kings suffered a narrow defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025. Adam Gilchrist questioned Dhoni’s tactical decisions, particularly the choice of bowler in the crucial 19th over. He also pondered whether Dhoni’s sharpness is waning as he nears retirement.
Kolkata’s cultural affinity with Paris finds a new parallel in football as Paris FC ascends to Ligue 1, sparking comparisons with the historic East Bengal-Mohun Bagan rivalry.
Arsenal faced a setback before their Champions League semi-final clash, losing 2-1 to Bournemouth, despite Rice’s goal. Aston Villa strengthened their top-five aspirations with a 1-0 victory over Fulham. Meanwhile, Leicester defeated Southampton 2-0, with Vardy scoring, while Ipswich Town fought back to draw 2-2 against Everton in a thrilling match at Goodison Park
A contentious umpire decision marred the RCB versus CSK match in the IPL, igniting a heated argument. Dewald Brevis was adjudged out LBW to a questionable knee-high full toss. Confusion reigned as Brevis and Jadeja ran a single, unaware of the review timer. Replays later showed the delivery sliding down leg.
