New Delhi: India all-rounder Axar Patel was Friday appointed captain of Delhi Capitals for upcoming IPL on expected lines pipping another senior player KL Rahul, who has joined the team this season.

Currently team’s longest serving player, having played six seasons for Delhi since 2019, the 31-year-old was DC’s top retention for INR 16.50 crore ahead of the mega auction last November. In 82 games for Delhi, he has scored 967 runs and picked up 62 wickets at a fantastic economy rate of shade over 7.

While his IPL captaincy experience is limited, he led Gujarat in domestic cricket including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2024-25.

He also served as India’s T20I vice-captain earlier this year and in their recent triumph in Champions Trophy Axar played a key role, taking five wickets at an economy of 4.35. He also played a key role at No 5 and scored 109 runs at 27.25.

“It is my absolute honour to captain the Delhi Capitals, and I’m deeply grateful to our owners and support staff for placing their faith in me,” stated Axar in a media release.

Axar will replace Rishabh Pant at the helm with the flamboyant keeper-batter exiting the franchise before the mega auction, and will now lead Lucknow Super Giants.

The team has seasoned players like Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc in the leadership group, and it remains to be seen how Axar brings out the best in them to drive Delhi Capitals forward.

“I’ve grown as a cricketer and a human being during my time here at the Capitals, and I feel ready and confident to lead this side going forward.

DC, one of the three original IPL franchises yet to win a title (along with Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru), finished sixth last season with an equal win-loss record.

For IPL 2025, they have a revamped coaching setup with GMR taking management control for 2025 and 2026 season as per their understanding with co-owners JSW.

The support staff is headlined by Kevin Pietersen along with head coach Hemang Badani, director of cricket Venugopal Rao, assistant coach Matthew Mott and bowling coach Munaf Patel. Venugopal Rao’s brother Gnaneshwar Rao has also been included in the coaching set-up.

“Our coaches and scouts have done a superb job at the mega auction by putting together a balanced and robust squad which has tremendous potential.

“We have plenty of leaders in the group which is also very helpful for me, and I can’t wait to join the team as we look forward to a very successful season.”

Last season, he scored 235 runs at an average of nearly 30 and took 11 wickets at an economy of 7.65.

A veteran of 150 IPL matches, Axar has 1653 runs and 123 wickets to his name, which includes a stunning hat-trick in 2016 when he took 4 wickets in 5 balls for the Punjab franchise.

DC chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi and co-owner Parth Jindal backed his appointment, highlighting his leadership qualities and contributions to the franchise.

“I have witnessed Axar’s progression as a cricketer and a leader first-hand at the Delhi Capitals,” stated Jindal.

“My relationship with him is one that goes beyond cricket. He is a much-loved character in the dressing room and is someone who I am sure will motivate the players in the squad.

“Axar has blossomed into a brilliant, mature cricketer whose all-round prowess was on full display in India’s T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy winning campaigns recently.

“With seniors like KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis and Mitchell Starc being part of our leadership group, I believe this is the start of something special for the Delhi Capitals.”

“This decision reflects the natural progression for him as a leader — from being our vice-captain for two seasons to now leading the team, he has always stepped up to the occasion for us,” stated Grandhi.

With Axar’s appointment, all five IPL teams who needed new captains after the mega auction have finalised their leaders: Rajat Patidar (RCB), Ajinkya Rahane (KKR), Rishabh Pant (LSG), and Shreyas Iyer (PBKS).

Delhi Capitals will kick-start their IPL 2025 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants in Visakhapatnam March 24.

New Delhi: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Ishan Kishan has the biggest opportunity to revive his career in the upcoming IPL 2025 after being picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the mega auction.

Chopra expressed his surprise at how Kishan has completely disappeared from the national selectors’ radar, despite his proven ability with the bat.

“For whatever reason, he has completely disappeared from the radar. It seems like no one is talking about him or understanding his importance. He even played in the Ranji Trophy and scored runs there, he is doing everything, but no one is even talking about him,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Kishan, who was released by Mumbai Indians (MI), was bought by SRH for Rs 11.25 crore in the IPL auction last November. However, SRH already has a strong opening combination in Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, who were among the most explosive openers last season. This means Kishan could be slotted into the No. 3 position, a role he has played occasionally but is not his natural position.

Despite scoring a record-breaking ODI double century (210 off 131 balls) against Bangladesh in December 2022, Kishan was dropped from the playing XI, with Shubman Gill preferred as the opener. Since then, he has struggled to find a place in the squad across all formats.

In the wicketkeeper-batter category, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Sanju Samson have been preferred over him in international cricket. Kishan also lost his BCCI central contract last year.

“You can come in reckoning once again. A keeper-batter who can open or bat in the top order, that is beautiful. Gautam (Gambhir) is anyway saying that they are all bogeys in a train; everyone has to go to the same destination, and it doesn’t make a difference whether a bogey is in front or at the back. That basically means batting order does not exist in Indian cricket anymore,” Chopra elaborated.

New Delhi: Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Rahul Dravid, who joined the team’s preparatory camp in Jaipur a week after suffering an injury on his left leg during a club match in Bengaluru, arrived at the training session on crutches.

In a video shared by RR, Dravid can be seen coming on a golf cart with a medical boot to attend a training session and switching to crutches when he got off the cart. Despite carrying the injury and relying on crutches for his mobility, the head coach was actively involved in the training and closely monitored the entire session.

Dravid had injured his left calf muscle while playing for Vijaya Cricket Club against Jayanagar Cricketers in the Karnataka State Cricket Association Group I, League III semifinal for the Sri Nassur Memorial Shield.

The Royals shared a photo of Dravid Wednesday, in which he was wearing a cast on his left leg, and captioned the post, “Head Coach Rahul Dravid, who picked up an injury while playing Cricket in Bangalore, is recovering well and will join us today (Wednesday) in Jaipur.”

Former India head coach Dravid made a surprise return to the cricket field by playing alongside his younger son Anvay in a KSCA Group I, Division III league match in the Nassur Memorial Shield February 22.

Dravid and his son Anvay represented the Vijaya Cricket Club (Malur) in a 50-over match against the Young Lions Club at the SLS Kreedangana cricket ground in Bengaluru.

The Indian cricket legend came into bat at No. 6 and made an eight-ball 10 in the match before being dismissed by spinner AR Ullas as the father-son duo forged a brief 17-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Dravid played his second match of the tournament in the semifinal against the Jayanagar Cricketers. When the Vijaya Cricket Club were battling at 12/3 in the seventh over, Rahul joined his son Anvay at the crease.

Two deliveries into his stay, the 52-year-old appeared in discomfort, his leg troubling him, but he continued to play and stitched a 66-ball 43-run partnership with Anvay for the fourth wicket.

The Indian legend battled the injury and played until he had to be helped off the field. But his courage failed to lift the fortunes of the Vijaya Cricket Club, Malur, in the semifinal.

The Rajasthan Royals, who won the title in the inaugural year in 2008 and reached the final again in 2022, will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium March 23.

IANS

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Thursday condoles the demise of former India all-rounder Syed Abid Ali, who breathed his last March 12. A celebrated cricketer, Syed Abid Ali was a pivotal figure in Indian cricket during the 1960s and 70s, renowned for his versatile skills.

He represented India in 29 Test matches and five ODIs, leaving a mark with his all-round capabilities. His contributions were instrumental in India’s historic Test series victories in England and the West Indies in 1971, where his fielding, bowling and batting proved invaluable. His lion-hearted approach and dedication made him a respected figure in the Indian cricketing fraternity.

BCCI president Roger Binny remembered the contributions of the former player and extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved family.

“Shri Syed Abid Ali was a true all-rounder, a cricketer who embodied the spirit of the game. His contributions to India’s historic victories in the 1970s will always be remembered. His dedication and versatility made him stand out. My deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time,” he said in a BCCI statement.

BCCI mourns the passing of Syed Abid Ali

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— BCCI (@BCCI) March 13, 2025

Devajit Saikia, secretary, BCCI added, “Shri Syed Abid Ali’s all-round skills and his contribution to Indian cricket are quite valued. He was a true gentleman of the game. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.”

Abid Ali made his Test debut against Australia December 23, 1967, and played his last Test against West Indies starting December 15, 1974. In 29 Tests, he scored 1,018 runs at an average of 20.36, scoring six half-centuries. His highest score was 81.

Abid Ali also claimed 47 wickets at an average of 42.12 with a best haul of 6/55. He scored 93 runs in five ODIs with a top score of 70. He claimed seven wickets at 26.71.

Abid Ali was a stalwart of first-class cricket, scoring 8,732 runs in 212 matches, playing mostly for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy. He scored 13 centuries and 31 fifties in FC with a top score of 173 not out. In these 212 matches, Abid Ali claimed 397 wickets, bagging five wickets in an innings on 14 occasions. He also scored 169 runs in 12 List A matches and took 19 wickets.

After retiring from cricket, Abid Ali shifted to the United States making a home in California.

Mumbai: Actress Athiya Shetty has shared a heartwarming glimpse of her pregnancy journey, flaunting her baby bump in a beautiful maternity shoot with her husband, cricketer KL Rahul.

The duo, who is expecting their first child together, shared a stunning maternity photo shoot on their respective Instagram handles. For the caption, the parents-to-be wrote, “Oh, baby.” In the photos, Athiya can be seen showcasing her growing baby bump while posing with her husband. The first image shows the mom-to-be sitting on a couch with KL Rahul lying on her lap.

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The second shot shows Athiya flaunting her baby bump in a white t-shirt paired with unbuttoned denim jeans. One of the photos shows the dad-to-be adorably putting his hand on Athiya’s belly as they strike a romantic pose on the couch.

Notably, the couple’s heartwarming post received love not just from fans but also from their family members. Athiya’s father, Suniel Shetty, dropped red heart emojis in the comments section.

Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul announced their pregnancy in November of last year. They captioned the post, “Our beautiful blessing is coming soon. 2025 (along with tiny feet and evil eye emoticons).” In April of 2024, rumours about Athiya expecting her first child began circulating after her father, Suniel, made a “nana” comment on a popular dance reality show.

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His remark led to widespread speculation that Athiya and KL Rahul were about to welcome a baby. While the couple did not publicly address the pregnancy rumours, a source later clarified that the news was false, confirming that Athiya was not expecting at that time.

The couple tied the knot in January 2023 in an intimate ceremony at Suniel Shetty’s farmhouse in Alibaug.

Athiya and Rahul, who first met in 2019 through a mutual friend, married in the presence of their family members and close friends after dating for almost four years.

New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is still not over Jos Buttler no longer being part of the team, and if he had his way, he would do away with the rule of releasing players in the IPL.

Samson and Buttler opened batting for Royals for seven years but they did not retain the Englishman ahead of the mega auction last year.

Buttler will play for Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL.

“The IPL gives you the opportunity to lead a team and play at the highest level, and it also allows you to build close friendships,” Samson told Jiostar.

“Jos Buttler is one of my closest friends. We played together for seven years. During this time, our batting partnership time itself is so long that we got to know each other so well.

“He has been like an elder brother to me. Whenever I had a doubt, I would talk to him. When I became captain [in 2021], he was my vice-captain and helped me become a good captain.”

Samson said letting go of Buttler was one of the hardest decision he has had to make. Royals had retained six players, including Samson, Yashavi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer and Sandeep Sharma.

“Letting him go has been one of the most challenging decisions for me. During the England series, I told him over dinner that I was still not over it. If I could change one thing in the IPL, I would change the rule of releasing players every three years,” he said.

“While it has its positives, on a personal level, you lose that connect, that relation you built over years. He was a part of the family. What more can I say?”

While Buttler will not be around in the Royals dugout, Samson is happy about reuniting with head coach Rahul Dravid.

“Rahul sir was the one who spotted me from the trials. He came up to me and said, ‘Can you play for my team?’ From there to now, with me being the captain of the franchise and he coming back – I’m very grateful, as we all are in the franchise, to have Rahul sir back,” he said.

“I have played under him [at RR] as a player when he was the captain and I have played under him in the Indian team when he was the coach. But a captain-coach relationship is very special and I’m very much looking forward to learning a lot from him.

“He is a top-notch professional and makes sure everything is done properly. I was with him last month in Nagpur at RR’s sports academy. From morning, ten o’clock till evening, five o’clock, he was standing in the heat, watching the batsmen bat and the bowlers bowl, interacting with them, discussing with the coaches. He is absolutely involved in each and everything.”

Royals signed 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi at the auction and that attracted a lot of attention.

Samson said the teenager is ready for the big leap.

“He looks very confident. He was sitting sixes out of the ground in the academy. So what else can I do? I think it’s all about understanding his strength, backing it and being around as an elder brother.

“He looks ready. I think it’s all about keeping him in the best shape and in a relaxed environment, which RR is known for, and then back him. You never know, in a couple of years he might end up playing for India as well.”

PTI

Dubai: Star India opener Shubman Gill was Wednesday named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for February following his stellar performances, which includes his exploits in his team’s title-winning Champions Trophy campaign.

Gill took home the award, beating competition from Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips.

In his five ODIs over the course of the month, Gill compiled 406 runs, averaging 101.50 at a strike rate of 94.19.

This included a stellar outing in the 3-0 series win over England, wherein Gill registered three consecutive scores of over fifty.

Gill began with a confident 87 in Nagpur and followed it up with a 60 in Cuttack. He finished in a grand style, smashing a hundred in Ahmedabad. His 112 came from merely 102 balls and included 14 fours and three sixes.

Gill was awarded player-of-the-match for this innings, and also took home the player-of-the-series award.

Continuing his golden run into the Champions Trophy, Gill hit an unbeaten 101 to lead India’s chase in their tournament opener against Bangladesh here. He followed it up with a resolute 46 against Pakistan.

India won both of their opening matches in the Champions Trophy on the back of these knocks.

This is the third ICC Men’s Player of the Month honour for Gill, who had previously won it twice in 2023 — January and September.

Dubai: After the recently concluded ICC Men’s Champions Trophy-winning campaign, India skipper Rohit Sharma moved up to third place in the ODI batting rankings chart, led by fellow opener Shubman Gill.

India lifted their third Champions Trophy title with a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in Dubai, star performers from both teams have been rewarded in the rankings update released Wednesday.

Rohit, who smashed a match-winning 76 off 83 balls in the final, jumped two places to third. For his impressive performance in the final, Rohit was awarded the Player of the Match trophy. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, who amassed 218 runs in the tournament, remains in the top five (fifth place) following his haul of 218 runs in the tournament.

New Zealand’s batters also made notable progress. Daryl Mitchell moves up one place to sixth, while young sensation Rachin Ravindra climbs an impressive 14 spots to 14th. Glenn Phillips also makes a leap, advancing six places to 24th.

New Zealand’s skipper Mitchell Santner was one of the standout performers with the ball, taking nine wickets in the tournament, including two in the final. His efforts see him jump six places to No.2 in the ODI bowling rankings, just behind Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana.

Fellow Kiwi Michael Bracewell also made a significant gain, moving 10 places up to 18th.

India’s spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja saw their rankings improve after their key contributions in India’s unbeaten campaign. Kuldeep, who picked up seven wickets, climb to No.3, while Jadeja moved up to 10th after claiming five wickets.

Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai remained the top-ranked ODI all-rounder, but the Champions Trophy saw a major shake-up just below him. Mitchell Santner rose to fourth, while Michael Bracewell (up to 7th) and Rachin (up to 8th) make jumps after their all-round displays.

Mumbai: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended an otherwise disappointing season on a positive note, denying Mumbai Indians a direct entry into the final of the Women’s Premier League with an 11-run win here Tuesday.

The result helped table toppers Delhi Capitals secure a direct berth in the final of the competition, which will be held here March 15, while MI will take on Gujarat Giants in the eliminator March 13 at the same venue. DC have now entered the summit clash for the third consecutive time and would hope that coveted title doesn’t elude them.

Batting first, RCB rode on skipper Smriti Mandhana’s 37-ball 53 and useful contributions from Ellyse Perry (49 off 38 balls), Richa Ghosh (36 off 22) and Georgia Wareham (31 off 10) to post a commanding 199 for three.

In reply, MI were stopped at 188 for nine. Both MI and DC finished the league engagements with five wins each, but the latter had better net run rate.

Sajeevan Sajana raised MI hopes with a 12-ball 23 before perishing to Perry.

MI were off to a disastrous start as they slipped to 38 for two in the sixth over. Nat Sciver-Brunt, however, kept them afloat until she was caught and bowled by Perry for a 35-ball 69..

As far as RCB bowling is concerned, all-rounder Sneh Rana bowled his off-breaks effectively to finish with excellent figures of 3/26 in four overs, while Georgia Wareham (1/29 in 4) was also impressive with the ball.

Kim Garth picked up two wickets for 33 runs as RCB emerged victorious..

Earlier, RCB were off to a flying start with the opening duo of skipper Mandhana and Sabbhineni Meghana putting on 41 runs in quick time before the latter got out while going for one too many.

During her brief stay in middle, Meghana entertained the turnout at the Brabourne Stadium with a 13-ball 26..

Mandhana, who has struggled to get going this season, got the RCB innings underway when she tucked away Shabnim Ismail for a four through mid-wicket.

Meghana welcomed Nat Sciver-Brunt by plonking her for two boundaries over mid-off in the second over..

Already out of contention for a place in the next stage of the tournament, RCB had nothing to lose and captain Mandhana looked relaxed at the crease as she went after Ismail to collect a four in front of the square and a six over long-off.

Meghana continued the carnage as she smashed off-spinner Hayley Matthews for two fours and a six.

However, Matthews finally managed to get a breakthrough in an eventful over with a ball that hurried on to the batter, who ended up giving a catch at short fine.

Two tighter overs followed as RCB scored 53 for one in powerplay.

Amanjot Kaur bowled a brilliant first over and conceded just two runs but Purple Cap holder Amelia Kerr was taken to the cleaners by Mandhana, who dispatched the leg-spinner for a six over deep mid-wicket and another maximum over long-off. As many as 22 runs came from that Kerr over as RCB raced to 77 for one after eight.

At the other end, Amanjot continued her impressive work and off-spinner Sanskriti Gupta also had a good first over, giving away just four runs.

Meanwhile, Mandhana struck two beautiful boundaries off left-arm spinner Parunika Sisodia, the second one bringing up her fifty.

In an eventful 12th over bowled by Kerr, the Kiwi dropped Perry off her own bowling and then Sanskriti spilled a sitter from Mandhana. The RCB captain, however, got out when Ismail completed a simple catch at long-off.

Perry, in the company of Ghosh and Wareham, then propped up RCB. Hayley Matthews (2/37) was the most successful bowler for MI.

Lucknow: India’s fastest bowler Mayank Yadav is unlikely to be available for Lucknow Super Giants’ first few games of the upcoming Indian Premier League as he is yet to be declared fit by the medical and sports science team at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru.

Mayank, who made his T20I debut for India last year against Bangladesh, came into limelight for his scorching pace that touched nearly 97 miles per hour, hurrying batters for pace.

“Mayank is expected to get fit in some time but he might have to miss the first few games of the Indian Premier League. As of now it could be first two to three games. He has just started bowling at NCA and will slowly be building his load,” a BCCI source told

Mumbai: Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted a challenging 199 for three against Mumbai Indians, riding on a half-century from skipper Smriti Mandhana and useful contributions from Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh in their Women’s Premier League match here Tuesday.

While Mandhana set the foundation with a 37-ball-53 that had three sixes and six fours, it was Richa’s 22-ball 36 and Georgia Wareham’s late blitz of 10-ball 31 took them to a commanding total.

Perry was unbeaten on 49 off 38 balls with the last four overs yielding 65 runs. The unbroken fourth-wicket stand between Perry and Wareham produced 46 off just 16 balls.

While Hayley Matthews, with 2 for 37, was the most successful bowler, Amelia Kerr’s leg breaks cost her 47 in three overs for just one wicket. This is an inconsequential game for RCB as they can’t make it to the finals.

Brief scores: RCB 199/3 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 53, Ellyse Perry 49 not out, Richa Ghosh 36, Hayley Matthews 2/47) vs MI.

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bowl against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League’s last league match here Tuesday.

Mumbai Indians are playing an unchanged side, while VJ Joshitha, Prema Rawat and Heather Graham came into the RCB XI.

While RCB are already out of contention, MI are looking to win this game and secure a direct entry into the final as toppers.

Teams:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru XI: Smriti Mandhana (capt), S Meghana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Heather Graham, Sneh Rana, Kim Garth, Prema Rawat, VJ Joshitha

Mumbai Indians XI: Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Amanjot Kaur, Yastika Bhatia (wk), S Sajana, G Kamalini, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Parunika Sisodia.

Karachi: In a stunning development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has resorted to cost-cutting measures including slashing the match fees of players in domestic cricket, raising questions about the financial health of the sport’s apex body in the country.

The PCB has reduced the match fees of cricketers participating in the upcoming National T20 Championship from 100,000 rupees per match to 10,000 per match with reserve players getting 5000 per match. The tournament begins March 14.

The reduction in match fees has caused concern among players and the board is also considering spending less on development of domestic cricket.

According to sources, the head of domestic cricket in the PCB, Abdullah Khurrum Niazi, has been “reducing facilities” for domestic players in the last few months.

“The players who were first being offered accommodation at five-star and four-star hotels are now being offered cheaper accommodation. Air travel has also been reduced for them besides fees,” a source said.

Another source said that outstanding payments from last season are yet to be cleared for players and umpires.

Additionally, the PCB is yet to implement an annual pension increase for former Test cricketers, as mandated by board policy.

The irony, according to one source, is that while match fees for players are being reduced, officials taking these decisions are getting monthly salaries in millions.

The PCB at the same time is also paying hefty monthly salaries to national selectors and even mentors appointed with five teams for the just-concluded Champions Cup.

Mentors Misbah ul Haq, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq, on two-year contracts, are said to be paid around 5 million per month.

The PCB has also spent around 1.8 billion rupees on upgrading the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Stadium in Karachi, and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for the Champions Trophy.

Dubai: India defeated New Zealand to win the Champions Trophy 2025 title. The match created many unforgettable moments, including India’s revenge against New Zealand for the 2000 defeat. However, amidst all the celebrations, Hardik Pandya’s extravagant watch stole the spotlight, leaving people stunned.

A viral video circulating on social media claims that the watch Pandya wore during the final is worth Rs 21 crore.

The footage from Dubai International Stadium shows Hardik Pandya posing with the Champions Trophy after the victory. While striking a pose, the watch on his wrist caught everyone’s attention, with reports suggesting it is the Tita-Carbon Richard Mille RM27-04, valued at Rs 21 crore.

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According to the brand’s website, the watch’s price isn’t listed directly, and users must click the request option to enquire. However, it is widely claimed that the watch costs Rs 21 crore. Earlier, Pandya was also seen wearing a Richard Mille RM27-02 CA FQ Tourbillon during a match against Pakistan, which was reportedly worth Rs 15 crore.

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The viral video was shared on Instagram by the account @celebwatchspotter and has already garnered millions of views and likes. Social media users have flooded the comments section with varied reactions.

One user commented, “This is Rafael Nadal’s edition.” Another wrote, “Hardik Bhai is making serious money!” Meanwhile, someone jokingly added, “You can get this watch in China for Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000.”

New Delhi: India wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant feels the lure of the IPL is understandable but budding cricketers should always focus on playing for the country as ‘everything else’ follows thereafter.

Pant, who was part of India’s triumphant Champions Trophy squad but did not get a game, made his international debut back in 2017.

“Since childhood, I had only one dream—to play for India. I never even thought about playing in the IPL. I think today, people are more focused on the IPL. Of course, it’s a great platform, but I believe that if your goal is to play for your country, everything else—including the IPL—will eventually fall into place,” Pant told JioHotstar.

“If you have that bigger mindset, success will follow. I always believed that I would play for India one day, and God has been kind. At 18, I got the opportunity to make my debut, and I am grateful for that,” said the 27-year-old.

Pant is known for flamboyant style of play and some of his trademark shots include a one-handed six with the bat often slipping out of his hands. He explained why that happens frequently.

“I think it mostly happens because I hold my bottom hand very lightly. I mainly try to use my bottom hand for support because, at times, it starts dominating. So, I focus on gripping my top hand tightly,” said Pant.

“But when I overreach—especially when the ball is too wide or too short—it’s not always in the ideal hitting zone. Sometimes, the shot I attempt may only have a 30-40% success rate, but depending on the match situation, I’m willing to take that risk. That’s my mindset.

“When I take that chance and overreach, I need to do something to maintain balance. At times, it may look like I’m throwing the bat, but in reality, I’m just trying to make the most of that delivery. If my bat slips, if it’s not in my hand, or even if it hits my head—my only focus at that moment is finding the boundary.”

Pant said being a gymnast in his younger days has also helped him as a cricketer.

“I used to do gymnastics as a kid. My gymnastics coach always told me that it would come in handy in life.

“Basu Sir, our Indian team trainer, once told me in 2018-19, ‘Thank you to your gymnastics coach because what he taught you in childhood is still benefiting you today.’ I kept practicing hand springs, and it has played a huge role in my fitness for sure,” he said.

PTI

New Delhi: After playing a pivotal role in India’s 2025 Champions Trophy triumph with his all-round skills, Axar Patel is now likely to be appointed as the new Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper for the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The all-rounder had stepped in to be DC’s captain in IPL 2024 when his predecessor Rishabh Pant was not allowed to play in a crucial game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) due to an over-rate offence.

“Yes, Axar Patel is likely to be named as Delhi Capitals skipper for IPL 2025. The franchise had asked for KL Rahul to be the team’s captain, but he very much wishes to contribute for the side as a player in the upcoming tournament,” sources told IANS Tuesday.

Axar has been with DC since 2019, and was retained for a whopping Rs 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. In his IPL career of 150 games, Axar has scored 1653 runs at a strike rate of 130.88 while picking 123 wickets with his left-arm spin bowling at an economy rate of 7.28.

Axar had been India’s vice-captain during their 4-1 T20I series win over England at home this year, but his possible elevation as DC’s captain for IPL 2025 is going to be a major test of his leadership skills, especially with the franchise still looking for their first-ever championship win.

Rahul was also a leadership contender after being roped in by the franchise for Rs 14 crore at the mega auction last year. The wicketkeeper-batter had previously led Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for two seasons each in the IPL, with the latter entering the playoffs in 2022 and 2023 season under his leadership.

But as per the sources, he will now feature for DC minus the leadership role. DC’s opening match of IPL 2025 will be against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam March 24. The side is scheduled to have a short three-day training camp in New Delhi this week, before leaving for Visakhapatnam March 17.

Auckland: Michael Bracewell will captain New Zealand for the first time on home soil in the upcoming five-game T20I series against Pakistan, starting at Hagley Oval in Christchurch March 16.

Bracewell was a star performer in their runner-up finish at the recent ICC Champions Trophy and is one of seven players from the squad set to join the T20 camp in Christchurch Friday.

The 34-year-old all-rounder, who has racked up 66 international appearances since debuting for the country in all three formats in 2022, captained the white-ball tour of Pakistan in April last year and said he relished the challenge of leading the side.

“It’s a great honour and a real privilege to captain your country,” he said in a release. “I really enjoyed leading the side in Pakistan last year and we’ve got many players from that squad included for this series as well, which is nice.

“Mitch Santner’s done a great job since taking over as white-ball captain and I’ll really just be trying to build on his good work and create an enjoyable environment for the guys to perform in. Pakistan are always a dangerous short-form side with lots of power and pace and we know they’ll be hurting after an early exit in the Champions Trophy.

“For the guys coming back from Dubai, there’s obviously a level of disappointment, but also a lot of pride in the way we were able to perform and represent New Zealand. We’ve loved all of the support we’ve received from afar and are certainly looking forward to getting back home and playing in front of our own fans and in front of full venues.”

With T20 regulars Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and white-ball captain Mitchell Santner unavailable with IPL commitments, the T20 squad features a mix of established and returning stars.

Ish Sodhi has been recalled after missing the recent home series against Sri Lanka, while Ben Sears has recovered from the torn hamstring which forced him to return home on the eve of the Champions Trophy last month.

Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke have been included for the first three games of the series only, as the selectors seek to manage the workloads of the pace-bowlers returning from the Champions Trophy.

Matt Henry, who finished as the leading wicket-taker at the tournament despite missing the final through injury, has been selected for games four and five, subject to further assessment once the ODI squad arrives home Wednesday.

Finn Allen, Jimmy Neesham and Tim Seifert have also been included in the squad after confirming their availability, if selected, for the build-up series’ to next year’s ICC T20 World Cup in India (against India and Afghanistan in January and February).

The trio were unavailable for the recent home series against Sri Lanka in December and January due to their overseas T20 league commitments, but have since returned for their Major Associations in the Ford Trophy.

Tim Robinson continues his run at the top of the T20 order, while pace-bowler Zak Foulkes (games 4 and 5) and wicket-keeper Mitch Hay retain their spots in the squad after impressing in the recent series against Sri Lanka.

Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman, who were both part of the Champions Trophy campaign, will provide the top-order batting experience.

Bevon Jacobs, who was part of the squad for the recent T20 series against Sri Lanka, was unavailable due to IPL commitments, while Kane Williamson wasn’t considered for selection after making himself unavailable.

Selector Sam Wells said the Pakistan series was important for several reasons. “We’re certainly starting to narrow our sights on the ICC T20 World Cup in India next February and March. We made it clear in our planning and communication with players that availability for that tournament and the build-up to it was required to be considered for this series against Pakistan.

“Half of this squad is only returning from the Champions Trophy Wednesday and so we’re going to need to manage those players really carefully. It’s nice to be welcoming back the likes of Ish, Kyle and Ben after time away from our T20 set-up.”

“The Pakistan series will provide an opportunity for all players to put their best foot forward and push their case for selection in the 15-player squad for next year’s major global tournament. We’re excited for Michael to captain the team for the first time on home soil. He’s a natural leader and in good form at the moment so I’m sure he’s looking forward to the challenge ahead,” Wells said.

Gary Stead will lead the coaching staff, alongside batting coach Luke Ronchi and bowling coach Jacob Oram. The T20I squad will assemble in Christchurch March 14.

Squad: Michael Bracewell (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes (games 4 & 5), Mitch Hay, Matt Henry (games 4 & 5), Kyle Jamieson (games 1, 2 & 3), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke (games 1, 2 & 3), Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

New Delhi: The Indian cricketers, led by Rohit Sharma, have made a quiet return home following their triumph in the Champions Trophy in Dubai.

After leading India to their second ICC title in nine months, skipper Rohit landed back in Mumbai Monday night.

The squad members have got a week off before they join their respective IPL teams ahead of the tournament beginning March 22.

“All the players with families left from Dubai Monday. There are some players who have stayed back for a couple of days,” a BCCI source told PTI.

With players preferring to rest ahead of the two-month-long IPL, the BCCI did not plan a felicitation for the team like it did when the squad returned from Barbados following the win in the T20 World Cup.

The players had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their return from Barbados via a special flight back in July.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir and pacer Harshit Rana landed in Delhi Monday night. Superstar Virat Kohli had left the team hotel with wife Anushka Sharma right after the team returned from the Dubai International Stadium late on Sunday night.

Shreyas Iyer, who played a big role in the middle order, will captain Punjab Kings and will join the team March 16.

India beat New Zealand by four wickets to win their third Champions Trophy. They were the only unbeaten side in the eight-team tournament.

Though Pakistan were the tournament hosts, India played all their games in Dubai as per the agreed hybrid model.

PTI

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians took a significant step toward securing a direct entry into the final with a thrilling 9-run victory over Gujarat Giants on [match day].

In a high-stakes encounter, Mumbai held their nerve in the final overs to defend their total, showcasing both batting prowess and disciplined bowling.

Gujarat Giants, despite a valiant effort, fell short in their chase, losing wickets at key moments. With this victory, Mumbai Indians solidify their position at the top, bringing them closer to an automatic qualification for the final.

The tournament now heads into its final stretch, with teams battling for playoff spots, while Mumbai inches ever closer to a shot at the championship.

Mumbai: Underfire for not having its representative on the podium for the prize distribution ceremony after the Champions Trophy final, the Pakistan Cricket Board has lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) for ignoring its representative during Sunday’s event in Dubai.

Senior PCB officials said the PCB has written a strongly worded letter to the ICC management protesting why its representative, who was in the stadium, was not invited to be on the podium for the ceremony, Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) said in a report Monday.

Pakistan is the official host of the Champions Trophy which was held on a hybrid model with Rohit Sharma’s team playing its matches in Dubai after the Indian government did not allow the team to travel to the neighbouring country.

Senior officials said PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has conveyed to the ICC that he would not be attending the final as he was busy in the country’s joint parliament session on Monday. Naqvi is also the interior minister of the country.

In Naqvi’s place, PCB chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed attended the final, but as per ICC protocols, he was not eligible to attend the ceremony, a stance contested by the PCB.

“The PCB has formally lodged a protest with the ICC for not including PCB COO and CT25 tournament director Sumair Ahmed Syed in yesterday’s presentation ceremony,” officials close to the board told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) Monday.

ICC protocols say the head of the ICC distributes the prizes and trophies, while the host country is represented at the podium. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Director Roger Twose, BCCI President Roger Binny, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia were on the podium as ICC Chair Jay Shah handed the trophy to Rohit Sharma after India defeated New Zealand in the final.

PCB has taken the stance that when Saikia and Twose can be invited to the podium despite not being heads of their respective Boards, then Ahmed should also have been invited to the podium, the report said.

Officials in the know said that in its letter, the PCB pointed out various mistakes committed by the ICC during the event.

“ICC had made a number of errors during the event, including changing the CT25 logo on broadcast feed during India’s match against Bangladesh and then playing the India anthem in the Australia versus England match in Lahore,” said an official.

“Another ICC event, another controversy. Pakistan’s name was erased from a broadcast graphic, anthem mix-up at a marquee match, and the host board was ignored at its own event. When does the accountability start?” the official, who is close to the PCB management, said.

The PCB management has faced severe criticism after its representative was not invited on the podium with former cricketers taking it as a slight to the country in an event they were hosting.