ipl 2025

Fans call Rishabh Pant an "expensive fraud" for his previous "Punjab was my only tension" performance during the flop show against PBKS.

Rishabh Pant was dismissed for just 2 against Punjab Kings.

With a 5-ball 2 against Punjab Kings on Tuesday, Rishabh Pant continued his poor run in the ongoing IPL 2025 by failing to score big. In the IPL mega auction, Lucknow Super Giants signed the wicketkeeper batter for a record-breaking INR 27 crore. However, in his first three matches, he has only managed to score 17 runs. As a result of the significant price tag, he has already been scrutinized, and the pressure has begun to build.

When Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, his team's openers, returned to the pavilion, the 27-year-old came out to bat against Punjab Kings. Together with his deputy Nicholas Pooran, the LSG skipper had a significant responsibility to rebuild the innings, but he once more gave in to pressure. Glenn Maxwell was bravely brought into the attack by Shreyas Iyer following Pant's arrival in the middle. Pant was enticed to take a risky shot when the Australian all-rounder bowled a short delivery down the leg side. The LSG skipper knelt down and smashed it straight into the short fine. Iyer had placed Yuzvendra Chahal there, and he made no mistake in grabbing an easy catch.

Updates on the LSG vs. PBKS IPL 2025 live score 

Pant failed to make an impact with the bat for the third inning in a row this season. He scored 15 and 0 in the two most recent contests. The biggest price tag in the league was attached to the wicketkeeper batter, who faced the wrath of fans on social media for his third consecutive failure.

The fans also found Pant's previous remark about the Punjab Kings. Ahead of the IPL 2025, Pant said he was tense about PBKS having the highest purse in the auction as he only wanted to get picked by LSG.

 Punjab was the only thing that kept me up at night. They had the most money. I believed I could reach LSG when Shreyas moved to Punjab. The possibility existed. However, Pant stated to Star Sports, "I just thought I would wait and watch, and had my fingers crossed," as you never know with an auction.

Can't send MS Dhoni the wrong message: As retirement rumors were addressed, critics issued a blunt "don't push him" warning.

Chris Gayle, a former batter for the West Indies, came to the defense of MS Dhoni on Tuesday as the India legend faced criticism for his new position in the Chennai Super Kings lineup after he walked out to bat at No. 9 in the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In spite of the increasing calls for Dhoni to retire, Gayle issued a clear warning to Dhoni's critics, urging the former captain of Chennai to extend his IPL tenure.

Since Dhoni took the field at No. 9 for Chennai last Friday at the Chepauk and scored a fiery 16-ball 30*, he has received criticism. Even though CSK head coach Stephen Fleming stated that Dhoni's ongoing struggle with a knee injury, for which he had surgery in 2023, was the reason for the uncertainty regarding his batting number, this did not sit well with experts and fans, some of whom believe Chennai should move on from the wicketkeeper-batsman.

Gayle reminded critics of Dhoni's unmatched contribution to CSK and the IPL in an interview with Insidesport and cautioned them to be careful what they say.

"Dhoni is a valuable addition to the IPL. You want to spend as much time with him as you can and for him to stay. You won't try to force him. People will send a negative message to such a great player and person once they begin to hear that noise. Because Dhoni brings so much value to the IPL, you shouldn't send such a message to him," he said.

Gayle responded to the criticism of his batting position by pointing to his ability to keep wickets before declaring that he would not mind batting at No. 11.

"He is still very sharp, and his wicketkeeping is still one of the best. It all comes down to how the team uses him and how he performs on the team. Everyone would like to see Dhoni. Therefore, Gayle continued, "It doesn't matter where he bats for me, even at number 11, as long as people see Dhoni still to be a part of CSK and the IPL."

"If Dhoni leaves IPL...'

 Gayle also said that the IPL, not just Chennai Super Kings, could lose value if Dhoni quits the league.

 "If he leaves the IPL, it will take a little drop for someone who has won so many championships. He has done a fantastic job for his franchise. The Whistle Podu is the focus of every CSK show in India. The former RCB batter stated, "That is the power, and that is what he brings to the IPL."

Elon Musk buys X, again! Here's how XAI Holdings delivers for investors — Key questions answered

 Elon Musk buys X, again!  Here's how XAI Holdings delivers for investors — Key questions answered

                  Elon Musk buys X, again!  Here's how XAI Holdings delivers for investors — Key questions answered

Elon Musk just acquired the social network formerly known as Twitter for the second time in three years.

 Musk, the world’s richest person, on March 28 used his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, to purchase his social media platform in an all-stock deal that values X at $33 billion, not including debt.  The new joint entity, which will be called XAI Holdings, has a value of more than $100 billion, again excluding debt, Bloomberg News reported.

The deal was a surprise, but not necessarily shocking: The two businesses have worked together closely since xAI’s founding in 2023, including on data licensing and product distribution for xAI’s chatbot, Grok.  They also share many of the same investors, and in some cases, employees even share office space in Palo Alto, California.

 The transaction valued xAI at $80 billion, Musk said — a jump from a valuation of about $50 billion in November, the last time the company raised money from investors.  The deal's $33 billion equity value of X is close to Musk's take-private price in 2022, which also included $12 billion in debt, and about the same as its valuation in a recently concluded funding round. Musk’s decision to merge the businesses is a win for X investors, who have endured more than two years of uncertainty since his takeover as advertisers and users abandoned the social network.  The company has struggled to grow its advertising business or generate meaningful revenue from subscriptions.  For most of that time, investor Fidelity had marked down its equity stake in X between 60% and 70%.

The combination with xAI means X investors now own shares in a nascent artificial intelligence startup with much more perceived upside.

 “XAI and X’s futures are intertwined,” Musk posted on X in announcing the transaction.  “Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent.  By combining X's vast reach with xAI's advanced AI capability and expertise, this combination will unlock enormous potential." But the deal also raises a number of questions, including the most basic one: Was this deal actually necessary?  Here are some of the most pressing unknowns about the new arrangement.

Why do this deal?

 Posts from Musk and other X or xAI shareholders this week praised the merger, citing the ways both companies will help one another.  The majority of attention has been paid to the proprietary dataset that xAI will acquire through X and its billions of user posts. It also gives xAI total control over that dataset and means the company can refuse to license that data to any other artificial intelligence competitors.  X, meanwhile, can help xAI distribute its Grok chatbot and other products to millions of consumers.

The problem with this logic, though, is that all these purported benefits were seemingly already in place.  XAI has been using the social network’s data to train Grok for well over a year, and Musk has been pitching Grok to users on X — and selling advanced versions of the product to X users via its premium subscription.  Given Musk’s role running both companies, there should have been no reason to worry any of those benefits were in jeopardy, or that X would suddenly start working with an xAI competitor.

What is the real value of X and xAI?

 Musk says the deal values X at $33 billion, not including $12 billion in debt.  xAI is valued at $80 billion, he added. This is a deal in which Musk buys a private company with another private company, both of which were represented by Morgan Stanley. This unique arrangement means that Musk could theoretically assign any value he wants to X and xAI, so long as none of the investors revolted.

It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that xAI purchased X for roughly the same amount Musk paid for it in October 2022, which means that X investors are simply shifting their stakes from one company to another.  It’s also interesting that xAI’s most recent valuation before the deal was about $50 billion, but now the company is valued at $80 billion even though there was no new financing involved in the transaction, according to a person familiar with the arrangement.  Musk, it seems, increased the value as part of the acquisition.

 A spokesperson for X declined to comment on details of the deal when it was announced.

Who will run XAI Holdings?

 One of the deal’s biggest cheerleaders last week was X Chief Executive Officer Linda Yaccarino, who posted, “the future could not be brighter.”  It’s less clear what the merger means for her future atop the company.  Musk didn’t announce any kind of corporate structure for XAI Holdings, and it’s not known who will run the new joint entity, though Musk himself seems like the most likely choice.  It’s possible Yaccarino stays on to continue running X as a business unit within the new company, but mergers are often messy and can require significant role changes.  We’ll have to wait and see how much more tightly Musk merges the operations of X and xAI to better understand how things will be run.

How will this change X’s social networking product?

 It’s not immediately known how this acquisition will impact X, if at all, in part because the two businesses have long been deeply intertwined.  Grok is already available on X, for example, and users can pay extra for premium features associated with the AI chatbot.  It seems likely there will be even more Grok integration into X as time goes on, including tools like photo editing or a voice assistant.  Nonetheless, given Musk's plans for the two businesses, this was already likely to happen.

Will other social networks get acquired now, too?

 As AI companies train their AI systems and look for ways to distinguish their chatbots from rivals, they have been clamoring for any and all proprietary data sets. Reddit Inc., for example, has licensed its trove of user content to Alphabet Inc.’s Google and makes hundreds of millions of dollars per year on AI licensing.  It’s possible that other AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic and Perplexity AI will look into acquiring other social networks to secure their own unique datasets, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mandeep Singh.  Perplexity did propose a merger with TikTok US as a solution to keeping the ByteDance Ltd.-owned service in America.

 “We believe smaller social-media players will actively seek alliances with providers of large language models, given the premium valuation for xAI at $80 billion, which is more than the combined market values of Snap, Pinterest and Reddit,” Singh wrote.

 Disclaimer: This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.  Only the headline has been changed.

The most dangerous batsmen in IPL history: From Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni - Legends who redefined T20 cricket

 The most dangerous batsmen in IPL history: From Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni - Legends who redefined T20 cricket

The most dangerous batsmen in IPL history: From Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni - Legends who redefined T20 cricket

Over the years, some of the most explosive and game-changing batting performances have occurred in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is frequently considered to be the pinnacle of Twenty20 cricket. The competition is fierce, and players bring their best to the field, making IPL a festival of cricket that fans across the globe eagerly anticipate.  Among the many discussions that the tournament sparks, one of the most debated topics is: Who is the most dangerous batsman in IPL history?

Due to their sheer dominance, consistency, and capacity to flip games on their heads, a number of batsmen have made a lasting impression on the league. From Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to Chris Gayle and MS Dhoni, the IPL has seen many legendary players who have shaped the league's legacy.  Based on statistics, impact, and sheer explosiveness, here’s a detailed look at some of the most dangerous batsmen in IPL history.

Please note: Stats exclude IPL 2025 season

1) Virat Kohli – The Run Machine

 Current Team: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

 Matches: 252

 Runs: 8004

 50s/100s: 55/8

 Average: 38.66

 Strike Rate: 131.97

 Virat Kohli is unquestionably the IPL's most dangerous batsman. The former RCB captain has been a cornerstone of the team since 2008 and remains the highest run-scorer in IPL history.  His dominance is demonstrated by the fact that his 2016 record-breaking 973-run season has not been broken. Despite RCB not winning an IPL trophy, Kohli’s contributions with the bat have been unparalleled, making him a nightmare for bowlers.

2) AB de Villiers – Mr.  360

 Teams: Royal Challengers Bengaluru/Delhi Daredevils

 Matches: 184

 Runs: 5162

 50s/100s: 40/3

 Average: 39.7

 Rate of Strike: 151.68 Known for his innovative stroke play and ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground, AB de Villiers was one of the most feared batsmen in IPL history.  His match-winning partnerships with Kohli for RCB have been legendary, and his ability to single-handedly change games has earned him the title of "Mr.  360."

3) Chris Gayle – The Universe Boss

 Teams: Kolkata Knight Riders/Royal Challengers Bengaluru/Punjab Kings

 142 matches Runs: 4965

 50s/100s: 31/6

 Average: 39.72

 Strike Rate: 148.96

 In the IPL, Chris Gayle was the epitome of power-hitting. Holding the record for the highest individual score in IPL history (175* in 2013), Gayle has been the most destructive batsman in T20 cricket.  His ability to clear boundaries with ease and his massive six-hitting capability make him one of the most dangerous players to have ever played in the league.

4) David Warner – The Most Consistent Overseas Batsman

 Teams: Delhi Capitals/Sunrisers Hyderabad

 Matches: 184

 Runs: 6565

 50s/100s: 62/4

 Average: 40.52

 Rate of Strike: 139.77 David Warner was consistent performer in IPL history and holds the record for the most runs by a foreign player.  His leadership helped Sunrisers Hyderabad to their maiden title in 2016.  Warner’s aggressive approach at the top made him one of the most formidable batsmen in the tournament.

5) MS Dhoni – The Best Finisher

 Current Team: Chennai Super Kings

 Matches: 264

 Runs: 5243

 50s/100s: 24/0

 Average: 39.12

 Strike Rate: 137.53

 MS Dhoni, often referred to as "Captain Cool," has been a key figure in IPL’s success.  Known for his calm demeanor and incredible finishing abilities, Dhoni has led Chennai Super Kings to multiple IPL titles.  His ability to absorb pressure and deliver in crunch situations makes him one of the most dangerous batsmen in IPL history

6) The Rising Star: Suryakumar Yadav Current Team: Mumbai Indians

 150 matches: Runs: 3594

 50s/100s: 24/2

 Average: 32.08

 Strike Rate: 145.32

 Suryakumar Yadav has been one of the most consistent performers for Mumbai Indians.  His versatility and ability to adapt to different match situations have made him a crucial asset in the IPL.  He continues to be a key Mumbai player and one of the league's most dangerous batsmen.

7) Andre Russell – The Powerhouse

 Current Team: Kolkata Knight Riders

 Matches: 127

 Runs: 2484

 50s/100s: 11/0

 Average: 29.22

 Strike Rate: 174.92

 Andre Russell is a game-changer with his explosive batting.  In the shortest format, his staggering strike rate of 174.92 speaks volumes about his impact. In 2019, Russell had a stellar season where he scored 510 runs at a mind-blowing strike rate of 204.8.  His ability to single-handedly win matches makes him one of the most dangerous batsmen in IPL history.

8) Rishabh Pant – The Young Star

 Current Team: Lucknow Super Giants

 Matches: 111

 Runs: 3284

 50s/100s: 18/1

 Average: 35.31

 Strike Rate: 148.93

 Rishabh Pant is one of the most exciting young players in IPL history.  With his aggressive batting style and fearless approach, he has already cemented his place among the best.  He has been a match-winner for Delhi Capitals and will hope to have a stellar IPL 2025 leadings Lucknow Super Giants.

9) Rohit Sharma – The Leader & Run Machine

 Current Team: Mumbai Indians

 Matches: 257

 Runs: 6628

 50s/100s: 43/2

 The mean is 29.72 Strike Rate: 131.14

 Rohit Sharma has been the face of Mumbai Indians’ dominance in IPL.  As a five-time title-winning captain, Rohit has led by example with the bat, consistently delivering match-winning performances.  He is one of the most dangerous batsmen in the Indian Premier League because he can anchor innings and switch gears when necessary.

10) Jos Buttler – The Explosive Englishman

 Presently, Gujarat Titans Matches: 107

 Runs: 3582

 50s/100s: 19/7

 Average: 38.1

 Strike Rate: 147.52

 Jos Buttler has established himself as one of the most impactful overseas batsmen in IPL history.  With seven centuries to his name, he is just behind Kohli in the most hundreds list.  He poses a significant threat to bowlers because of his aggressive top-order batting.

The IPL has seen many legendary batsmen who have redefined T20 cricket with their aggressive and strategic gameplay.  From Kohli’s consistency to Gayle’s brute power and Dhoni’s finishing ability, these players have set benchmarks for future generations.  The competition to be the most dangerous batsman in the IPL is still as exciting as ever, with new talent emerging each season.

Did you know that Elon Musk was very close to selling Tesla to Google? Some interesting facts about the richest man in the world

 Did you know that Elon Musk was very close to selling Tesla to Google? Some interesting facts about the richest man in the world 

Did you know Elon Musk almost sold Tesla to Google? Some interesting facts about the world's richest man

Elon Musk, one of the most influential entrepreneurs of the modern era, is widely known for revolutionizing the electric vehicle industry with Tesla, advancing space exploration with SpaceX, and promoting renewable energy through SolarCity.  His contributions have led to comparisons with historical visionaries such as Henry Ford and Steve Jobs.  However, beyond his well-documented successes, there are many lesser-known aspects of his life and career.  From overcoming childhood struggles to almost selling Tesla to Google, Musk’s journey is filled with intriguing facts.  This article explores some surprising details about the billionaire’s life, career, and achievements.

Elon Musk’s most surprising facts from selling a video game at age 12 to nearly selling Tesla

1.  Elon Musk was bullied as a child

Elon Musk’s early years were far from easy.  Growing up in Pretoria, South Africa, he faced intense bullying at school.  Musk has stated in a number of interviews that other students frequently targeted and even physically assaulted him. He talked about one time when he was thrown down a flight of stairs and beaten so badly that it was hard for him to breathe.

2.  Musk’s parents thought he might be deaf

Despite these hardships, Musk displayed remarkable intelligence from a young age.  His fascination with technology and space led him to spend hours reading books, including encyclopedias.  His parents even suspected that he might be deaf because he would often zone out, deeply lost in thought.

3.  At the age of 12, Elon Musk sold his first video game for $500.

 At the age of 12, Musk created and sold his first video game called Blastar.  The game, which involved destroying alien spaceships, was sold to a South African magazine for $500.  His early proficiency in coding pointed to his potential as a tech entrepreneur. A Google software engineer reprogrammed Blastar in 2015, restoring its playability.

4.  Musk left South Africa at age 17 to avoid serving in the military.

Musk was born in South Africa but left the country at the age of 17 to avoid mandatory military service.  He used his Canadian heritage (through his mother) to obtain citizenship and moved to Canada, where he enrolled at Queen’s University in Ontario.  This decision set him on a path that eventually led to his studies at the University of Pennsylvania and, later, his entrepreneurial career in the United States.

5.  Elon Musk ran a 10-bedroom nightclub in college to pay expense

While studying in college, Musk found creative ways to earn money.  He and his roommate rented a large 10-bedroom house and turned it into a nightclub, charging people an entry fee of $5.  By hosting these parties, Musk managed to cover much of his college expenses.  Interestingly, he often remained sober during these events to ensure everything ran smoothly.

6.  Elon Musk’s first startup, Zip2, sold for $307 million in 1999

Before Tesla and SpaceX, Musk’s first major business was a company called Zip2.  Along with his brother Kimbal, he developed an online city guide service that helped newspapers provide maps and business directories.  In 1999, Compaq acquired Zip2 for $307 million, giving Musk his first major financial success.

7.  Musk nearly sold Tesla to Google for $11 billion in 2013

In 2013, Tesla faced severe financial difficulties, and Elon Musk nearly sold the company to Google for $11 billion.  Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, written by Ashlee Vance, says that Musk approached Google co-founder Larry Page about a possible takeover. The deal was close to happening, but Tesla’s financial situation improved at the last minute, and the company rebounded, eventually becoming one of the most valuable automakers in the world.

8.  Elon Musk made $180 million from PayPal’s $1.5 billion sale

 Musk co-founded a financial services company called X.com, which later became PayPal.  He became the largest shareholder of the business after a series of mergers. When eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion in 2002, Musk received approximately $180 million from the deal, which he later invested into his future ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX.

 9.  Musk bought James Bond’s submarine car for $866,000

 In 2013, Musk purchased the famous Lotus Esprit submarine car from the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me for $866,000.  He later stated that he planned to modify it using Tesla’s electric powertrain to make it a functional submarine vehicle.

 10.  Elon Musk appeared in The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory

 Elon Musk has made guest appearances in popular culture, such as in The Musk Who Fell to Earth, an episode of The Simpsons in which he lands in Springfield and teams up with Mr. Burns.  He also played a version of himself in The Big Bang Theory.

 11.  Elon Musk founded a school for his kids and SpaceX employee

 Dissatisfied with traditional education, Musk founded Ad Astra, a school designed to provide a more hands-on and innovative learning environment for his children and the children of SpaceX employees.  Over traditional rote learning, the school places an emphasis on teamwork, science, mathematics, and engineering. 

12.  Elon Musk works over 100 hours a week and expects the same from employees

 Musk is known for his demanding work ethic, often putting in over 100 hours a week.  He expects the same level of commitment from his employees, sometimes requiring them to work around the clock to meet deadlines.  During the development of the Tesla Model S and SpaceX’s Dragon Capsule, engineers worked in two shifts to keep production going 24/7.

 13.  Elon Musk advocates 'Semantic Tree' approach to learning

 Musk has often shared his philosophy on learning, emphasizing the importance of understanding fundamental principles before diving into details.  He compares knowledge to a “semantic tree,” where the trunk and main branches represent core concepts, and the leaves represent finer details.  According to Musk, mastering the basics first allows for a deeper and more effective understanding of any subject.

IPL 2025: Lord Shardul Thakur memes viral after LSG pacer decimates SRH 300 hopes

 IPL 2025: Lord Shardul Thakur memes viral after LSG pacer decimates SRH 300 hopes

                           IPL 2025: Lord Shardul Thakur memes viral after LSG pacer decimates SRH 300 hopes

Shardul Thakur grabbed headlines on Thursday, March 27, by pulling off the improbable against SunRisers Hyderabad in an IPL 2025 clash.  The Lucknow Super Giants bowler kept SunRisers' big-hitting batters quiet in the powerplay after captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to field at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

In the build-up to the match, many had predicted that SunRisers would breach the 300-run mark against a Lucknow bowling line-up weakened by injuries.  The anticipation stemmed from SunRisers' explosive start to IPL 2025, where they smashed a record-breaking 286 against Rajasthan Royals in their opening game on Sunday.

However, Shardul Thakur turned the tide in the powerplay, dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan off successive deliveries.  He got Abhishek for 6 with a well-directed short ball.  | IPL 2025, SRH vs LSG Updates |

On the very next delivery, Shardul sent last match's centurion, Ishan Kishan, back for a golden duck.  Cramping him for room, Shardul induced a faint edge, which was caught down the leg side.

At 15 for 2 in the third over, SunRisers were in trouble from the start. To put things into perspective, they had raced to 45 runs in the first three overs of their previous game.

 Fans on social media celebrated Shardul Thakur's ability to rise to the occasion, praising his fighting spirit.  Meme-makers had a field day as well, lauding the all-rounder's clutch performances.

Shardul has been leading LSG's pace attack after being signed as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan just days before the start of the IPL 2025 season.

 Surprisingly, the experienced all-rounder had gone unsold in the IPL mega auction, a decision that raised quite a few eyebrows.  He bowled only two overs in LSG's opening game but stepped up against SunRisers' formidable batting line-up in Hyderabad.

 SunRisers scored 62 runs in the powerplay thanks to Travis Head, who was dropped twice in the first six innings. However, he was eventually bowled for 47 by rookie fast bowler Prince Yadav.

ipl 2025

 Shreyas Iyer punishes Prasidh Krishna severely with an unbeaten 42-ball 97 in his PBKS debut against GT.

Shreyas Iyer put up a scarcely believable unbeaten stand of 81 runs in just 28 balls with Shashank Singh

Shreyas Iyer has marked his Punjab Kings debut with an unbeaten 97 off 42 balls in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season opener against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.  Iyer hit a whopping nine sixes and five fours on his way to the ton.  His final partnership with Shashank Singh, in which they put up an unbeaten stand of 81 runs in a barely believable 28 balls, was the stand that stood out. He shared a couple of blistering stands with debutant Priyansh Arora and Marcus Stoinis, but the stand that stood out was his final one.

Iyer was made captain by the franchise after acquiring him for ₹26.75 crore, thus briefly making him the most expensive player in the history of the IPL auctions.  He came in to bat at No.3 in the fourth over after the dismissal of Prabhsimran Singh, who fell for an eight-ball five.

 Iyer first shared a 51-run stand off just 21 balls with IPL debutant Priyansh Arya, who fell on 47 off 23 balls.  After Glenn Maxwell was run out for a golden duck, Azmatullah Omarzai scored 16 runs in 15 balls, causing a brief downturn.

IPL 2025 LIVE: Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings

 However, Marcus Stoinis provided Iyer with competent support, resuming PBKS's charge. The pair smashed 57 runs for the fifth wicket off just 28 balls.  Iyer was especially brutal in the 17th over against Prasidh Krishna, going 6, 4, 6, 6 between the second and fifth balls.  After that, though it was the Shashank Singh show and the latter said later that Iyer asked him to score as many runs as possible in the last over and not worry about giving him strike.  It meant that Iyer was stranded on 97 at the non-striker's end but Shashank went berzerk, himself staying unbeaten on 44 in 16 balls.

Iyer was captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) last season and led them to their third IPL title.  However, he was not included in the franchise's list of retentions ahead of the mega-auction last year and former Australia batter Matthew Hayden aluded to that in the commentary box while Iyer was in the 90s.

 "Is there a bit of 'have some of this KKR'?  He wins them the title, he moves and he has absolutely played a flawless innings.  Just belting it everywhere, great timing, field awareness, fantastic striking.  KKR, well, say no more," said Hayden.

IPL 2025: CSK opens bookings for RCB match, frustrated fans lash out on social media at ‘ticket scam’

File Photo. IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings' captain Ruturaj Gaikwad tosses the ball during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

For their high-stakes matchup with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Chennai Super Kings opened up ticket bookings. As was to be expected, the number of seats available far outweighs the demand for the tickets. The fans are lining up in droves, at least digitally, for a chance to snap a ticket or two, but just like the previous time, many are left disappointed.

However, many are left disappointed by the overwhelming demand, with social media flooded with screenshots of the official ticket website, showing the length of these digital queues.  Some users shared their slot in the line, with one user having more than 68,000 people ahead of them in the queue.  This is leaving many fans frustrated as the official capacity of the Chidambaram stadium capping out at 38,000, with many of those seats reserved for TNCA and MCC club members, sponsors, partners, and other commitments.

A scam

 Many fans have termed the ticket queue number system a “scam” due to the high demand.  With the remark, "Another day, another scam for csk tickets," the user who was in the back of the 68,000 other people in the line lamented his predicament. “CSK well deserves two years ban for tickets scamming!!” was posted by another irritated user on X (formerly Twitter).

There were similar sentiments on social media ahead of the opening game against Mumbai Indians, as many fans were left disappointed without a ticket.  Read more here

 However, one cannot blame the franchise for the fans’ disappointment as the demand for CSK tickets, especially in elite games against the likes of RCB and MI, far outweighs the number of seats available for the game.  This demand is nothing but a testament to MS Dhoni’s popularity amongst fans.

Additionally, given that Dhoni is getting close to being 44 years old, this may be the last time fans see him wear the yellow gloves. CSK will host RCB on Friday, March 28, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

 Stay updated on all the action from the IPL 2025.  Check the IPL 2025 Schedule, track the latest IPL 2025 Points Table, and follow the top performers with the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.

IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant's stumping error cost LSG match against DC, wicketkeeper says 'these things happen in cricket'

IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant's stumping error cost LSG match against DC, wicketkeeper says 'these things happen in cricket'

Rishabh Pant didn't have the best of start with new franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing IPL 2025.  Monday in Visakhapatnam, his team lost by one wicket to Pant's former team, Delhi Capitals.

Pant first failed to open his account and lost his wicket, which derailed Lucknow's momentum after the onslaught by Nicholas Pooran (75 off 30) and Mitchell Marsh (72 off 36).  The two played explosive knocks and provided Lucknow with a solid foundation on which to capitalize in the final overs, but they were unsuccessful. Thanks to a brief cameo by David Miller (27* off 19) in the end Lucknow piled 209/8 on the board.

Lucknow carried the momentum when they walked out to defend and reduced Delhi to 65/5 in the seventh over.  However, what followed next was next to incredible as two Indian uncapped stars - Ashutosh Sharma (66* off 31) and Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15) - led Delhi to victory with some assist from Proteas star Tristan Stubbs, who contributed with a healthy 34 off 22 balls.

Also read: Famous Delhi Capitals victory over Lucknow Super Giants by Ashutosh Sharma in incredible chase

However, LSG could have won the match in the final over itself when Delhi were six behind the 210-target.  With Delhi batting at 204/9, Mohit Sharma stepped down the crease against Shahbaz Ahmed, missed the line and the ball went on to strike on his pad.  It was not a difficult chance but Pant missed the opportunity to stump Mohit, following which the LSG skipper used the DRS for LBW.  The review showed that the ball would miss the stumps, giving Delhi a breather.

After that, Mohit rotated the strike on the following ball, which, once more, could have been tight if Ayush Badoni had collected the ball and hit it at the stumps. The third ball was then dispatched downtown by Ashutosh to clinch the match in some style.

 Pant was asked about the missed opportunity that played a major role in deciding the outcome of the match, to which the southpaw said it is a common occurrence in a game of cricket and the unit need to play better cricket.

 "Definitely, luck plays a part in this game, and if it could have missed his (Mohit Sharma's) pads, it was a chance for stumping.  But these things happen in the game of cricket.  You can't focus on these things, but rather, you need to play better cricket," Pant said in the post-match presentation.

ipl 2025

 IPL 2025: Yashasvi Jaiswal's Accidental Throw Strikes Sandeep Sharma On Chest, Leaves RR And SRH Players In Splits | WATCH

IPL 2025: Yashasvi Jaiswal's Accidental Throw Strikes Sandeep Sharma On Chest, Leaves RR And SRH Players In Splits | WATCH

A dramatic moment unfolded during a clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 while fielding RR's Yashasvi Jaiswal inadvertently threw the ball, which hit his teammate Sandeep Sharma on the chest.

 During the seventh over, Jaiswal's rambling throw from out in the deep accidentally whacked Sandeep on his left side, landing just in front of the shoulder blade.

The pacer seemed in discomfort, wincing in pain, and his expression showed annoyance at the unfortunate incident.

 During the over, Travis Head lobbed the ball straight down the ground and Jaiswal fielded the ball at long-off.

 The pacer was taken aback when Jaiswal threw the ball back, which bounced awkwardly just in time to hit Sandeep as he returned to his run-up. Watch the video here:

As soon as the ball hit Sandeep, he seemed a bit pained and appeared to be pretty disgruntled.  However, the injury was not that serious, and the pacer continued his work without much hindrance, bringing relief to the Rajasthan Royals camp.

 Jaiswal immediately raised his hand in apology, surprised by the unintended result of his throw.  On the other hand, SRH's batter Head also looked flabbergasted by the quick sequence of events as his features spoke a thousand words in surprise over something so unexpected.

Undeterred by the incident, Hyderabad continued to unleash a barrage of powerful hits, with Travis Head and Ishan Kishan maintaining the momentum after Abhishek Sharma's dismissal.  However, the Rajasthan Royals eventually managed to get a breakthrough, dismissing Australian opener =Head for a solid 67.

'I want MS Dhoni to smash you': Rohit Sharma's words to Mumbai Indians youngster left him confused

Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are not captains anymore for their respective IPL teams.

A key cog in the Kolkata Knight Riders unit, Ramandeep Singh has become a well-known figure among IPL and Indian cricket fans.  The all-rounder is a handy spinner and a power-hitter, which has become useful for KKR on several occasions.  However, before KKR, Ramandeep represented Mumbai Indians, making his IPL debut in 2022 under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.

Under Rohit's captaincy, Ramandeep developed into the player we see these days, further improved by KKR's coaching staff.  Recently, appearing on Raj Shamani's Youtube podcast show, Ramandeep opened up on his playing experience under Rohit, sharing insights into his captaincy mindset.  Revealing an incident involving MS Dhoni, Ramandeep, then 24, shed light on how Rohit and his captaincy acumen initially took him by surprise.

"Rohit Sharma is an outstanding leader" "There was a strong belief in my batting, but the crowd and the fact that you are bowling your first ball in the IPL are very different because you have never done that before. You don't know what is going to happen, the batter could have a good day," he said.

"So when Rohit gave me the ball and Dhoni was batting, he told me in our first conversation, 'I want MS Dhoni to smash you'.  Because they had lost seven wickets at that point.  So if they hit us, good, but if they get out while trying to hit us, then we will win.  He previously informed me that there is no issue. You can only get that sense of freedom and feeling of belonging in a team from a captain; only a captain can do this. He is a true leader."

Which MS Dhoni face-off is the former MI player talking about?

Ramandeep was discussing MI's IPL 2022 victory over CSK by five wickets. It was in Match 59 of the season, played at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, when Ramandeep was handed the ball with CSK eight wickets down in the first innings.  Dhoni (24*) was on strike with CSK at 80/8 in the 14th over. Maheesh Theekshana was at the non-striker's end.

With a score of 36* runs off 33 balls, the India legend maintained his unbeaten record as CSK reached 97 in 16 overs. MI reached 103/5 in 14.5 overs, successfully completing a 98-run chase.  MI exacted the perfect revenge, having previously lost to CSK in their earlier fixture by three wickets.

 Ramandeep only bowled one over in the match, beginning with a length delivery outside off, which Dhoni guided through covers for a single.  Following that, Ramandeep sent a bouncer to Theekshana, which struck the gloves of the tail-ender. It was followed by a party ball, as Ramandeep got a hint of extra bounce, and Theekshana miscued his short straight to Rohit at cover for a catch.  The next two balls were consecutive dots, followed by Mukesh Choudhary edging Ramandeep for a four.

 Ramandeep featured in the IPL 2025 season opener, but failed to have an impact this time.  He remained unbeaten at 9 off 6 balls as KKR reached 174/8 in 20 overs.  He didn't bowl during the run-chase as RCB guned down the target in just 16.2 overs to win by seven wickets.

ipl 2025

What did MS Dhoni say to Vignesh Puthur?  The son of an auto rickshaw driver's journey to playing in the IPL is detailed by friends and coaches.

MS Dhoni and Vignesh Puthur caught up after the CSK vs MI match on Sunday. (Screengrab//BCCI)

MS Dhoni and Vignesh Puthur caught up after the CSK vs MI match on Sunday.  (Screengrab//BCCI)

 On Monday morning, when Sreerag dialled Vignesh Puthur, he didn’t waste a single second to ask the question that has been on everyone’s lips since Sunday night.  “Eddaaa, pulli entha da paranchu?  (What did MS Dhoni say) is what I asked first because even my parents were keen to know,” Sreerag says.  Dhoni was seen talking to Vignesh, and patting his back after Vignesh’s impressive debut for Mumbai Kings in the game against Chennai Super Kings.  So what did Dhoni say?  Sreerag ends the suspense by saying, "Dhoni asked him how old he is and told Vignesh to keep doing the same things that have brought him to the IPL."

It is the question that almost everyone has been asking the 24-year old Vignesh’s father Babu, a familiar auto rickshaw driver in the Kunnapally locality in Perinthalmanna town in Malappuram.  Few in the town know Vignesh as well as Sreerag, his close friend who used to take the wrist-spinner on his bike for training sessions and to restaurants that serve fish.

“If you talk to him, you won’t believe he has so much talent.  He is a very shy boy and an introvert.  Won’t talk much...but with the ball in hand, he is a totally different person.  The world got to see it last night,” Sreerag says.

It is a view shared by his childhood coach CG Vijayakumar too.  He has been watching Vignesh bowl since  he had come as a 10-year old wearing a Kolkata Knight Riders’ jersey with the name Gautam Gambhir printed at the back.

“When any kid joins our academy, we always let him try everything... batting, wicketkeeping, fast bowling, spin.  But with Vignesh, from the start it was all about wrist-spin because he had a rubbery wrist and a flowing action.  Wrist spin is an art and he had everything to learn.  The first impression always counts and look what he did in Chennai,” Vijayakumar says.

 Protect Your Loved Ones

It was Vignesh's neighbour Shareef who first planted the thought of bowling wrist spin.  “We used to play together.  I liked bowling leg-spin, but I couldn’t bowl it.  So I asked him to try it and even with the tennis ball he was getting good turn.  I was determined to take him to the camp and told his parents as well that if he starts playing cricket seriously, he will come good,” says Shareef who stopped playing beyond age-group levels.

 With wickets coming in heaps, Vignesh would find himself being part of Kerala’s age-group squads all along with the lone exception being the elusive senior cap.  That Mumbai Indians still went ahead and bought him at the auction, just tells you how much of a potential they see in him.

Vignesh with his friends in Malappuram, where he grew up. And Vijayakumar isn’t surprised.  “If I’ve to be honest, he didn’t have a good outing in the Under-23 levels which is why he couldn’t make it to the Kerala team.  He was struggling a bit, but I was confident that it was just to do with the form.  I even sent his videos to Mr Balachandran, who is the senior most coach in Kerala and even he didn’t find anything wrong.  It was only a matter of time and thankfully, MI scouts didn’t go by wickets.  They just went by his potential,” Vijayakumar says.

By 15 he was playing for Jolly Rovers first XI, captained by former Kerala player Shabin Pasha.  At the age-group levels, he developed a googly as well as the flipper as he picked wickets consistently.  Like Vijayakumar, even Pasha was surprised that Vignesh couldn’t get a breakthrough season in the Kerala Cricket League, but was impressed how he bounced back.

 “He had a bit of asthma issues and didn't think he was at his best when the KCL happened.  MI scouts just noticed his uniqueness and when he went for the trials, we were a bit confident that he would be bought at the auction because he had everything that you need to succeed in the T20s,” Pasha says.

 The last 12 hours have been overwhelming for Vignesh’s parents, says Sreerag.  “They were clearly taken aback.  At this moment, you need to stay true to your roots and that’s what I told them.  We have seen what quick fame and money could do to cricketers.  We saw it with Vinod Kambli then and now we are seeing it with Prithvi Shaw.  This one game doesn’t make him good or bad,” he says.

 Sreerag claims that his friend hasn't changed much even though Vignesh's life has changed completely since he was purchased at the auction. “If you ask anyone in this neighborhood, they will all talk about how good he is. We used to hang out in these tiny tea shops. We may have to change that, but knowing him, he won’t.  I’m just waiting to see what he does about his favorite Oreo milkshake.  He loves having that, but now with diet in place, all of it would disappear I believe.  But a feast is long pending when he comes back!”

 For the latest news from across India, Political updates, Explainers, Sports News, Opinion, Entertainment Updates and more Top News, visit Indian Express.  Subscribe to our award-winning Newsletter Download our App here Android & iOS 

In IPL 2025, MS Dhoni shows his class by making a kind gesture to CSK Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.

ms dhoni proves his class with a humble gesture for csk captain ruturaj gaikwad in ipl 2025

MS Dhoni once again reminded one and all why he's admired both on and off the field—this time, not for his power hitting but for a simple, heartwarming gesture during the Indian Premier League match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians at the Chepauk Stadium.

 The moment unfolded when bowler Nathan Ellis appealed for an LBW and quickly turned to Dhoni, asking for a review.  But going for the review himself — as he’s famously known to do behind the stumps — Dhoni turned to Gaikwad with a smile and gestured him to take the review.

The instance of Dhoni handing over the decision-making to the Gaikwad won hearts on social media, with fans praising his humility and trust in his teammate.  The clip has since gone viral, leading to conversations about Dhoni's calm leadership and the deep mutual respect within the team.

MS Dhoni's DRS Success Rate

MS Dhoni remains one of the sharpest cricketers in the game, even today.  His understanding and instincts regarding the Decision Review System (DRS) are unmatched.  His remarkable success rate of over 98% throughout his career exemplifies his leadership abilities and cricketing brilliance.

Dhoni’s ability to judge the line and angle of the ball from behind the stumps is exceptional.  His accuracy is equally effective for both fast bowlers and spinners.  Dhoni is always composed and calm. Every DRS decision he takes is calculated and often becomes a turning point in the match.

However, Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary claimed that though Dhoni is close to accuracy, he doesn't always get the DRS calls right.

"That's not the case always (Dhoni being right), sometimes it's the other way around, but he's close to accuracy.  During a conversation that took place on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel, umpire Chaudhary stated, "He has a lot of ideas about the game." "

He's (Dhoni) close to accuracy.  Lot of the times he stops others from appealing.  He can become a good umpire provided he's ready to be inside the ground for seven hours," he added.

IPL 2025

 ‘Why didn’t you give strike to Dhoni?’: Rachin Ravindra seals CSK’s victory, but fans wanted ‘Thala’ finish

hennai Super Kings' batters MS Dhoni and Rachin Ravindra after CSK won the IPL 2025 cricket match over Mumbai Indians, at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Sunday, March 23, 2025.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium erupted as the man in the iconic yellow jersey, with the number 7 on his back, walked out of the pavilion during Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) opening match against Mumbai Indians (MI) after Ravindra Jadeja’s dismissal in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Everyone expected the match to end in typical ‘thala’ fashion, for Dhoni to “finish it off in style”, however, that was not what happened and many of the CSK fans could not accept that.

 With just four runs needed off six balls, it was Rachin Ravindra who sealed the victory with a stunning six, however, fans were not entirely pleased.

 While it was a moment to cherish for young New Zealand batter he was at the receiving end of hate messages on social media.

 In the second last over, Dhoni defended two deliveries, leaving it to Ravindra, who finished the game with a six on the first ball of the final over.

 "Why didn’t you give Dhoni a strike?" many fans questioned on his recent post about joining the CSK camp.

 "Thala ko chakka kyun nahi maarne diya?  (Why didn’t you let Dhoni hit a six?)"  wrote another.

Following the match Rachin Ravindra opened up about experiencing the Dhoni fandom firsthand.

 "It's difficult to soak it in when you're in the moment because you're simply focused on winning the game for the team," Ravindra said after the match.

 "It's hard to ignore, though.  You hear Dhoni come out to the whistles and the noise.  It’s cool to share the crease with him for the first time.  He's a legend of the game, and people love him here, so it's special."

 "All the crowd would have been hoping that I gave him the strike and he finished it.  But it's just about getting the job done.  He has finished so many games for CSK, and I'm sure there's plenty more to come."

 Earlier in the day, the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) saw SRH come out on top against a determined RR after posting 286 runs, the second-highest total in IPL history.  RR fought hard till the end but was only able to score 242 runs while chasing.

MS Dhoni says 'there is a line' between him and Virat Kohli, refuses to reveal text message: 'He was never happy...'

MS Dhoni (L) and Virat Kohli are friends but...

The incomparable MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli played together for 11 years, but despite evolving as friends, there is 'a line' that continues to exist between them.  Yes, Dhoni, the former captain of India, has discussed his relationship with Kohli, revealing the particulars of their bond. Kohli debuted in 2008 when Dhoni was already a big name – he had led India to a T20 World Cup and a CB Series win in Australia.  Dhoni guided Kohli every step of the way as the youngster transformed into the best batter in the world, despite being hailed as India's "greatest captain" at the time. The two never lost their sense of camaraderie, even when Dhoni played his final game for India under Kohli in 2019.

In 2022, Kohli put out a random post on X – a picture with Dhoni during the 2016 T20 World Cup semifinal against Australia – referring to him as 'always my captain'.  Even in the IPL last year, Kohli and Dhoni gave each other hugs during the season opener between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which made for a touching image. But as much of a brotherhood there is, Dhoni says there's always been a junior-senior thing between the two.

"Between me and Virat, right from the start, he was someone who wanted to contribute.  He was never happy with a 40 or a 60; he wanted to score a 100 and be not out till the end.  So, that hunger was there right from the start.  His determination to succeed and the way he improved his batting are what kept him going. He became more fit and was always present on the field. So he was always like that.  He'd show up and ask, "What could I have done now?" I could have done this'", Dhoni said in his interview with JioHotstar.

"We had a lot of conversations, and that opened us up.  Again, I gave him an honest opinion.  Things like 'You could have done this, delayed it by an over'.  Or 'this was a risk that you had to take'.  Just putting in the point, and that's how the relationship grew.  It was more like a captain and a newcomer at that point in time, but once you keep interacting, you become friends.  But I still feel we have that line in the middle – about the senior and a junior – although still friends.  We have that companionship now that both of are not captains.  Which means that we can have more time between us before the toss."

MS Dhoni won't speak about his text message to Virat Kohli

For Kohli, the end of his captaincy tenure remains an ultra-sensitive topic.  After stepping down as India's T20I captain at the end of the 2021 T20 World Cup, Kohli was sacked from the post in ODIs, leading to a clash between him and the then-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly.  A couple of months later, Kohli resigned as India's Test captain.  As much as the decision was his, it's tough to believe that being removed as ODI captain played a role in it.

Kohli later mentioned that only one person reached out to him when he stepped down from the post, and it was Dhoni.  For someone who isn't a mobile buff, the fact that Dhoni texted Kohli following one of the most important decisions of his career is something Virat will always cherish.  Dhoni refused to comment on what the text was about, explaining the rationale behind it.

 "I'll talk about the relationship, not the message.  I like to keep it the way it is because what it does is it lets other cricketers come to me and ask if they have anything in their mind.  "Say anything to him, and it will not come out, and it will not reach a third person," So that trust is very important; especially for cricketers who you haven't played with," added Dhoni.

Cricket

 What do Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni talk about?

What do Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni talk about? 

heirs was one of the smoothest captaincy transitions in international cricket, and the reason could well be that former India World Cup winning captain MS Dhoni was impressed with how committed Virat Kohli was to winning.

Speaking exclusively on Jio Hotstar's MS Dhoni Experience, the CSK talisman explained how their equation grew over the years with winning for India being at the core of it.

Dhoni recalled his first impressions.  "Right from the start, Virat was someone who wanted to contribute.  He was never satisfied with scoring just 40 or 60 runs—he always aimed for a century and wanted to remain not out till the end.  That hunger for success was there from the beginning," he told the show

The turnaround seems to have come about after the Sri Lanka series.  "If you look back at the Sri Lanka series in which he was a part of the team, he came back and played even better. He stood out because of the way he worked on his batting, improved his fitness, and maintained his determination to perform and keep getting better. Dhoni added, "He was always eager to learn."

They started thinking about run chases, where Kohli is the reigning deity and Dhoni is the original master of planning run pursuits. "He would come and discuss situations, analyzing what he could have done differently.  For example, in a run chase, if he got out at a crucial moment, he would talk about whether he could have delayed taking a risk by an over or handled the situation differently.  We had many conversations, and that helped both of us.  It was always an honest exchange of ideas—whether a certain approach was right or if an adjustment could have been made," Dhoni said.

Though Dhoni is six years Kohli's senior, the two had become friends now, and not being captains afforded them peace and glee to talk.  "Initially, it was more of a relationship between a captain and a young player, but over time, as we kept interacting, we became friends.  Even today, we share that bond, though there’s always a line of respect between a senior and a junior.  We have more time to talk before games now that neither of us is captain. Earlier, before the toss, we had to prepare and go, but now we can just stand and have a chat," Dhoni said.

Watch: Hardik Pandya Hugs MS Dhoni And Refuses to Let Go During Practice Session

 Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni greet each other at Chepauk. (Screengrab/MI)

In an exciting matchup tonight at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians will kick off their IPL 2025 season. Between them, CSK and MI have won 10 IPL titles and are two of the most successful teams of the competition’s history.

For this particular match, MI will be without their captain, Hardik Pandya, who is serving a one-match suspension for an over-rate offense from last season. Pandya though is training with his MI teammates.

A clip of Pandya greeting CSK legend MS Dhoni has been shared by MI on their social media handles.  The allrounder, who played key roles in India’s T20 World Cup win last year and the recent Champions Trophy, hugged the legendary captain and then refused to let go of him.

The duo chatted for a while during the training session.

The duo shares a warm relationship with Pandya along with his elder brother Krunal once paying Dhoni a surprise visit at his home to celebrate the two-time world cup winning captain’s 39th birthday in July 2020.

Suryakumar Yadav will lead MI in his absence.

In addition to Pandya, the star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is expected to miss the first few games as his recovery from a back injury continues.

Suryakumar acknowledges that while it’s a challenge to find apt replacements for big players, MI have the players who can step up.

 “…it is difficult to fill the shoes of such amazing players.  It is a part of the game, and the show must go on.  There are boys who can take up the responsibility and are very keen to take the field tomorrow (Sunday)… we have guys who can take up the responsibility,” Surya said during a media interaction on Saturday.

MI has defeated CSK 20 times in their 37 previous encounters while losing 17 games.

'He makes 99% of decisions' - MS Dhoni tells why CSK made Ruturaj Gaikwad their captain

'He makes 99% of decisions' - MS Dhoni tells why CSK made Ruturaj Gaikwad their captain

'He makes 99% of decisions' - MS Dhoni tells why CSK made Ruturaj Gaikwad their captain (Source: BCCI)

Chennai Super Kings started their campaign with a great win over Mumbai Indians, under the leadership of captainRuturaj Gaikwad.  CSK legend and former skipper MS Dhoni also explained the reason behind giving the young Maharashtra batter the captaincy ahead of the IPL 2024, and why the change had to be made going forward.

There has been a lot of debate on ’s captaincy after CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2024.  Even though leadership changed, some people still believed that Dhoni was in charge of all the decisions, while Ruturaj let the "Captain Cool" lead.

However, the former CSK skipper has revealed the reason behind passing on the reins to the 28-year-old top-order batter where he also talked about the plans for the longer period and how well he has done as a player and a skipper.

“You have to look at the long-term picture.  More often than not, the batsmen who are part of your core squad and do well for you are the ones you can rely on for a longer period.  With bowlers, especially fast bowlers, there is always a tendency for injuries.  Ruturaj has been part of us for quite some time.  He has done well for us.  His temperament is very good—he’s very calm, very composed.  He and Fleming get along very well.  So those were the reasons we considered him for leadership,” he said via JioHotstar.

I'll try to stay away as much as possible: Dhoni

The Ranchi-born also went on to mention how much his involvement in the game is, and the kind of role he plays in handling the team as well as the players within the Chennai squad.

“We were quite sure Ruturaj would be good for us.  After IPL last year, I almost immediately told him, ‘90% you will lead next season, so start preparing yourself mentally’.  Before the start of the tournament, I also told him, ‘If I give you advice, it doesn’t mean you have to follow it.  I will try to stay away as much as possible.’  During the season, a lot of people speculated that I was making the decisions in the background.  But the fact is, he was making 99% of the decisions.  The most important calls—bowling changes, field placements—were all his.  I was just helping him out.  He did a brilliant job of handling the players,”  concluded.