‘It is a crime’: Hardik Pandya loses his cool
Mumbai Indians faced a narrow defeat against Gujarat Titans, with captain Hardik Pandya lamenting the costly no-balls bowled by the team. Despite a spirited bowling performance led by Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, MI fell short while defending a sub-par total of 155/8. Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya described the no-balls bowled by him and his teammates as a “crime” following their three-wicket defeat via the DLS method against Gujarat Titans in a thrilling contest at the Wankhede Stadium.
Singer Rahul Vaidya faced backlash after calling Virat Kohli a “joker” in a video mocking the cricketer’s accidental like on actress Avneet Kaur’s photo. Vaidya sarcastically blamed Instagram’s algorithm, further escalating the situation. After revealing Kohli blocked him, Vaidya’s comment about Kohli’s fans being “bigger jokers” triggered angry reactions, including personal attacks.
With the league stage nearing its end, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad are out of playoff contention. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Punjab Kings are likely to advance, while Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals have a chance. Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders face slim odds, with 16,384 possible result combinations remaining.
In a thrilling, rain-interrupted match at Wankhede, the Gujarat Titans clinched a nail-biting three-wicket victory against the Mumbai Indians on the very last ball. Chasing 156, Shubman Gill’s 43 and crucial contributions down the order guided the Titans to the top of the league standings.
Gujarat Titans surged to the top of the IPL 2025 points table after defeating Mumbai Indians, securing their eighth win. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings closely follow, intensifying the playoff race. Delhi Capitals remain in contention, while Sunrisers Hyderabad were eliminated. Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings have bowed out of playoff contention, making every remaining match crucial.
Hardik Pandya equaled an unwanted IPL record, bowling an 11-ball over against Gujarat Titans, conceding 18 runs with five extras. Despite Jacks’ half-century and Suryakumar’s contribution, Mumbai Indians struggled, losing seven wickets for 58 runs. Gujarat’s spinners capitalized, restricting Mumbai to a paltry score after they failed to build on a promising start.
Avneet Kaur’s presence at an IPL match sparked social media buzz after Virat Kohli’s account seemingly liked her photo. Kohli attributed it to an algorithm error, requesting no assumptions. Singer Rahul Vaidya then mocked Kohli’s explanation, suggesting similar ‘glitches’ could affect him and humorously claiming Kohli blocked him due to the post, possibly another ‘algorithm’ issue.
Gautam Gambhir addressed his past on-field clashes with Virat Kohli, clarifying that their bond remains strong despite representing opposing teams. He humorously dismissed rumors fueled by their IPL interactions, attributing them to TRP-driven speculation. Gambhir lauded Kohli’s contributions to Indian cricket and even expressed admiration for his exceptional fitness, jokingly requesting the BCCI to limit social media posts about them.
Despite skipping practice for the second day, MS Dhoni is expected to play in Chennai Super Kings’ crucial match against Kolkata Knight Riders, confirmed bowling coach Eric Simons. Simons emphasized Dhoni’s experience in managing his preparation and his invaluable influence on the team, particularly in nurturing young talents like Ruturaj Gaikwad.
The Indian squad for the England tour will be selected in two weeks, confirmed BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. India A players, already in a prepared pool, are set to depart on May 25 for three four-day games before the Test series commencing June 20.