Sports / The Times of India
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Indias Test opener, is making a significant shift from Mumbai to Goa for the 2025-26 season, where he will serve as captain. Despite his deep roots in Mumbai cricket, Jaiswal seeks a No-Objection Certificate to officially make the move.
New Zealand secured an unassailable lead in the ODI series against Pakistan with an 84-run victory in Hamilton. Mitchell Hay's unbeaten 99 and Ben Sears' five-wicket haul were pivotal as New Zealand posted 292 for 8, bowling out Pakistan for 208 in response.
Arjun Erigaisi is aiming to regain his India No. 1 ranking after narrowing the gap with D Gukesh in the latest FIDE ratings. Erigaisi made a strong comeback with decisive victories in the Bundesliga, positioning himself at World No. 4. Meanwhile, R Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram achieved their career-high rankings, now at seventh and eleventh respectively.
Nicholas Pooran is leading with an impressive strike rate and six count, making IPL 2024 a high-scoring season. Kagiso Rabada discusses the challenges for bowlers, the Impact Player rule, and shares his experience with coach Ashish Nehra and the upcoming WTC final.
IPL 2025 | Kagiso Rabada: 'Even a No. 10 can hit a six... there's no mystery anymore'
Gujarat's Pragnika Vaka secured the world champion title in the under-7 girls category at the 2025 FIDE World School Championship in Serbia, scoring an outstanding nine out of nine points. Apart from Pragnikas gold, India won two silver medals in the U-7 open and U-11 girls categories.
English Grandmaster David Howell, a former wunderkind who currently does commentary, feels the Indian model is the one to emulate for chess nations.
Afghanistan cricketer Azmatullah Omarzai has emerged as a promising talent, showcasing his prowess, especially in white-ball cricket. His outstanding performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup highlight his batting and bowling skills.
Nottingham Forest triumphed over Manchester United with a 1-0 victory, as Anthony Elanga scored early on. Arsenal beat Fulham 2-1 with Bukayo Saka returning from injury to score. Wolverhampton secured a win against West Ham, moving them closer to safety.
Real Madrid edged Real Sociedad to reach the Copa del Rey final after a thrilling 4-4 draw in extra time, securing a 5-4 aggregate victory. Antonio Rudiger scored the decisive goal, setting up a final clash with either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid's goals came from Endrick, Jude Bellingham, and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Jasprit Bumrah is still in recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, gradually increasing his workload to prevent a stress fracture in his back. Both Bumrah and Akash Deep, who are nursing back injuries, aim to return to competitive cricket by mid-April, with medical teams treading cautiously.
Punjab Kings won their second consecutive match in the IPL, defeating Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets. PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer scored a match-winning fifty. LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen conversing with Iyer and Rishabh Pant. Lucknow are still trying to adapt to their home conditions and will face Mumbai Indians next.
Punjab Kings' dominant win over Lucknow Super Giants was highlighted by a cheeky social media post seemingly mocking LSG captain Rishabh Pant. During the match, PBKS chased down 172, powered by Prabhsimran Singh's explosive 69 and Shreyas Iyer's composed 52*. Arshdeep Singh's early breakthroughs left LSG struggling, securing a commanding victory for PBKS.
Lucknow Super Giants' spinner Digvesh Singh was fined 25% of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during their game against Punjab Super Kings. Punjab Kings won by 8 wickets, successfully chasing a 172-run target. Prabsimran Singh's impressive 69 and Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 52 led Punjab to victory.
Prabhsimran Singh's explosive 69 off 34 balls led Punjab Kings to an eight-wicket victory against Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2025 clash. Chasing 172, Punjab's aggressive approach was bolstered by Arshdeep Singh's 3/43. Despite Nicholas Pooran's 44, LSG managed only 171/7. Captain Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera ensured the win in just 16.2 overs.
Leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi brought back the iconic notebook celebration in IPL 2025 after dismissing Punjab opener Priyansh Arya. His mimicry of Virat Kohlis famous gesture was a highlight during Lucknow Super Giants match, which Punjab Kings won by chasing down 171 runs in 16.2 overs. Punjab Kings will now face Rajasthan Royals at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Saturday.
Rishabh Pant is facing a challenging start with Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025, struggling to deliver with the bat despite being the most expensive player bought for Rs 27 crore. His low scores from the first three matches have prompted criticism and social media trolling. In three matches, he has managed just 15 runs at a dismal average of 7.50.
Sunil Gavaskar revived the 'Stupid, stupid, stupid' comment in response to a question about Lucknow Super Giants' batting strategy. He suggested that the absence of key bowlers might be influencing their aggressive approach, necessity to compensate for their bowling weakness. Lucknow Super Giants are currently missing key players, with Mohsin Khan ruled out of the tournament and speedster Mayank Yadav also unavailable. The team has been plagued by injuries.
Several high-profile players, including Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma, are underperforming in the IPL 2025 season. Despite their hefty price tags and previous successes, they have struggled to make significant contributions in their respective matches, raising concerns for their franchises. This season's IPL is no exception, with a few big names making it to that unwanted list.
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer chose to field after winning the toss against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson made his debut for Punjab Kings. Rishabh Pant retained the same XI from their previous match. Lucknow holds a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Punjab. When these teams met in Lucknow last season, which was also LSGs first home game, the hosts secured a 21-run victory.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have made an impressive start to their IPL 2025 season with victories over Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings. Despite their success, former India opener Virender Sehwag humorously mocked RCB, referencing their lack of an IPL title. RCBs next challenge will be against Gujarat Titans on Wednesday.
Mumbai Indians' debutant Ashwani Kumar impressed with a record-setting spell on his IPL debut, taking 4 wickets for 24 runs. Skipper Hardik Pandya's pep talk boosted his confidence. MI's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey praised Ashwani's performance, highlighting his ability to swing the ball at high pace.
Indian cricket fans were shocked when Sydney Sixers announced Virat Kohli's BBL signing, which was later revealed as an April Fools prank. Kohli, focused on IPL 2025, became the highest run-scorer against CSK. During the IPL opener, he was honored with the prestigious 'IPL 18' memento for his record-breaking achievements in the tournament.
India's Arshdeep Singh attributes his T20 cricket success to continuous improvement and constructive criticism. Playing for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, Arshdeep supports new captain Shreyas Iyer's player-centric approach. With 99 international T20 wickets, he thrives on high-pressure situations and emphasizes patience and learning from mistakes to achieve success.
Chennai Super Kings, with one win and three losses, face challenges in their IPL 2025 campaign. Kris Srikkanth suggests replacing Jamie Overton with Devon Conway and using R Ashwin more effectively outside the Powerplay. CSK are preparing for their next match against Delhi Capitals. Five-time IPL champions CSK are set to face Delhi Capitals in their next fixture on Saturday.
Sunrisers Hyderabad's new recruit, Aniket Verma, has hit 12 sixes in just 56 balls, capturing everyone's attention. His inspirational journey highlights the magic of the IPL
Ashwani Kumar made an impressive debut in the IPL, taking four wickets in his spell against Kolkata Knight Riders, including dismissing their captain and the powerful Andre Russell. He is now the first Indian bowler to achieve such a feat on IPL debut, playing a crucial role in his team's victory.
Suryakumar Yadav became just the fifth Indian to reach 8000 runs in T20s during Mumbai Indians' 8-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday in IPL. With a swift score of 27* off nine balls, Yadav's performance marked MI's 24th win against KKR. Ashwani Kumar excelled with 4/24 on his debut, leading MI to their first win this season.
Donald Trump expressed his happiness for Tiger Woods and Vanessa Trump's new relationship, calling Woods 'a fantastic guy.' Woods confirmed dating Vanessa, Trumps former daughter-in-law, with social media posts. Their relationship follows Woods' tumultuous past relationship with Elin Nordegren, which ended amid a sex scandal and divorce.
Chennai Super Kings' head coach Stephen Fleming explains MS Dhoni's varying batting positions are due to physical constraints, particularly knee issues. Dhoni's role is adjusted based on game situations, balancing leadership and wicketkeeping. CSK's recent loss to Rajasthan Royals was attributed to a poor Powerplay performance and fielding errors compared to their opponents.
Lucknow Super Giants aim for their first home win this season against Punjab Kings at Ekana International Stadium, with skipper Rishabh Pant eager to make a mark. After a narrow loss to Delhi Capitals and a strong comeback against Sunrisers Hyderabad, LSG looks to continue their momentum, relying on top-order batsmen and a strategic spin attack.
Mumbai Indians won their first IPL 2025 match against Kolkata Knight Riders with a convincing performance. Despite this, former England captain Michael Vaughan questioned Rohit Sharma's place in the team due to his poor batting form. While Vaughan acknowledged Rohit's past contributions, he stresses the need for immediate improvement to maintain his position in the playing XI.
Ashwani Kumar had an exceptional IPL debut for Mumbai Indians, taking four wickets for 24 runs and playing a crucial role in his team's victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Missing lunch due to nerves, he followed captain Hardik Pandya's advice and impressed with his aggressive bowling.
Ashwani Kumar's impressive four-wicket haul on IPL debut and Ryan Rickelton's unbeaten 62 helped Mumbai Indians secure a commanding eight-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Kumar became the first Indian to take four wickets on IPL debut, contributing significantly to KKR's collapse at 116 all out.
Mumbai Indians made IPL history by becoming the first team to win 10 matches against a single opponent at one venue, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium. MI restricted KKR to 116 runs, with Ashwani Kumar taking four wickets. Ryan Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav led the chase, securing an eight-wicket victory with over seven overs remaining.
Mumbai Indians' pacer Ashwani Kumar impressed everyone with his 4/24 on an IPL debut, leading his team to an eight-wicket victory against Kolkata Knight Riders. Ashwani's performance was instrumental in bundling KKR out for 116, marking him as a promising future talent. KKRs innings started on a disastrous note as Sunil Narine was bowled for a duck by Trent Boult in the very first over. The collapse continued when Quinton de Kock (1) followed in the next over, caught by Ashwani off Deepak Chahar
Mumbai Indians' 23-year-old debutant Ashwani Kumar had a stellar start to his IPL career, taking four wickets against Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite pre-match nerves, he delivered an impressive performance, helping bundle out KKR for 116. Kumar credited captain Hardik Pandya for strategic advice and expressed pride in his achievement. This was his first four-wicket haul in any format.
Mumbai Indians' Ashwani Kumar had an incredible IPL debut, taking 4 for 24 against Kolkata Knight Riders, the best by an Indian on IPL debut. His efforts helped restrict KKR to the lowest total of this IPL season. The 23-year-old's outstanding performance, combined with Deepak Chahar's contribution, highlights his promising future.
Cricket West Indies has announced significant captaincy changes, with Kraigg Brathwaite stepping down as Test captain and Shai Hope taking over the T20I role from Rovman Powell. These changes aim to prepare the team for upcoming international competitions, including the ICC World Test Championship cycle and T20 World Cup.
Ashwani Kumar, a left-arm pacer for Mumbai Indians, had a memorable IPL debut by taking a wicket with his first ball against Kolkata Knight Riders. His breakthrough came with a spectacular catch by Tilak Varma. This early strike helped Mumbai Indians dominate the game. Ashwani, from Punjab, impressed in his eagerly anticipated debut.
Mumbai Indians' pacer Trent Boult took his 30th wicket in the opening over of an IPL match, surpassing other bowlers as the top performer in this category. During MI's home game against Kolkata Knight Riders, Boult dismissed Sunil Narine early. This achievement highlights Boult's crucial role in the team. Both teams made key changes in their lineup for the match.
India pacer Jasprit Bumrah will miss Mumbai Indians' first home IPL 2025 game against Kolkata Knight Riders. Having been out since January, Bumrah is undergoing rehabilitation with no confirmed return date. Mumbai Indians have lost their initial matches, and Bumrah's absence has been pivotal in their slow start to the season.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have chosen to replace their scheduled ODI series with a five-match T20 International series this May. This new arrangement aims to better prepare both teams for the Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup, providing crucial exposure for younger players. The source further mentioned that Bangladesh will likely play in Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad, while Pakistan is set to tour Bangladesh in June or July for a three-match T20 series.
Rajasthan Royals' Nitish Rana delivered a crucial 81-run knock against Chennai Super Kings despite being unwell, inspired by a motivational call from coach Rahul Dravid. Rana, given the responsibility to bat at number three, helped RR secure their first win of the IPL 2025 season. He emphasised the importance of handling pressure and executing game plans for successful performances.
Varun Chakaravarthy credits Sunil Narine for shaping his career, highlighting their strong on-field understanding. He stresses sticking to basics in high-pressure situations. A key bowler for KKR, Chakaravarthy aims to dismiss top Indian batters like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in IPL 2025. Fresh from India's Champions Trophy win, he remains focused on continuous improvement.
Rajasthan Royals secured their first win of IPL 2025 by defeating Chennai Super Kings. Stand-in captain Riyan Parag, who faced backlash for his post-match behavior and was fined for slow over-rate, led the team in Sanju Samson's absence. Fans criticized Parag's actions after the victory. After losing their season opener to Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals will next take on Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 5.
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins, currently in India for the IPL, calls the country his second home and praises its culture and energy. As a Tourism Australia advocate, he is promoting Australia to Indian fans. He also shared ideas for an ideal Australian vacation for Virat Kohli and addressed media scrutiny in his role.
Sanju Samson has approached the BCCI Centre of Excellence for full clearance to resume wicket-keeping duties following surgery on his index finger. With partial clearance, he played merely as a batter while Riyan Parag captained Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. A positive evaluation can reinstate Samson's captaincy. Rajasthan Royals' upcoming schedule includes an away clash against Punjab Kings on April 5, followed by a fixture against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on April 9.