Pat Cummins, captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, decided to bowl first after winning the toss against Gujarat Titans. Sunrisers Hyderabad remained unchanged from their previous match. Gujarat Titans included Gerald Coetzee, replacing Karim Janat. Shubman Gill, Gujarat Titans captain, mentioned they would have also preferred to bowl first. He added that the team is focusing on improving each game.
Following India’s T20 World Cup victory in Barbados, Virat Kohli revealed his retirement from T20Is, citing the need for a new generation to gain experience. Kohli, who scored a match-winning 76 in the final, emphasized the importance of providing young players with a two-year cycle to prepare for future World Cups.
Ajinkya Rahane has expressed his strong desire to rejoin the Indian cricket team, emphasizing his fitness and passion for the game. Despite past setbacks, he remains focused on contributing to KKR in the IPL and supporting teammates like Venkatesh Iyer through challenging phases. Rahane also admitted that the KKR’s opening combinations haven’t clicked consistently.
Mumbai Indians defeated Rajasthan Royals by 100 runs. Rohit Sharma scored 53, and Rickelton added 61, setting a strong foundation. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya contributed unbeaten 48s each. Rajasthan’s batting collapsed, with only Jofra Archer offering resistance. Jasprit Bumrah and Karn Sharma took crucial wickets. This victory ended Rajasthan’s playoff hopes and extended Mumbai’s winning streak.
Following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, Instagram accounts of prominent Pakistani cricketers like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan have been blocked in India. This action follows a similar restriction placed on Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem’s account, indicating a response to recent events. Users attempting to visit his profile are shown a message stating: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
Legendary Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter and ex-captain Virat Kohli was asked to pick a teammate he would and wouldn’t like to be roommates with as the team makes multiple stops during a demanding season
Ravi Shastri has suggested that Team India selectors and think tank consider Sai Sudharsan for the tour of England. The former India cricketer and coach praised his technique and suitability for English conditions. He also mentioned Shreyas Iyer as a potential contender for the five-match series.
Tensions between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh threaten to disrupt the subcontinent’s cricket calendar. India’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh faces uncertainty due to recent controversial statements from a retired Bangladeshi army officer. The 2025 Asia Cup’s fate is also in doubt following the Pahalgam terror attack, making India’s participation against Pakistan unlikely.
The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has suspended former Indian pacer S. Sreesanth for three years following derogatory statements against the association regarding Sanju Samson’s exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad. The decision was made during a special General Body meeting. While franchise teams received warnings, the KCA will pursue compensation claims against Samson’s father and others for making baseless allegations.
