Thursday, July 09
Rajasthan Royals batting coach Vikram Rathour admits he was "sold" on Vaibhav Suryavanshi's talent after seeing him bat for the first time. The 14-year-old phenom further solidified that impression with a mature 33-ball 57 against CSK, anchoring a vital partnership. Rathour lauded Suryavanshi's temperament under pressure, suggesting his unique style and ability make him a truly special prospect.
England Test captain Ben Stokes expressed his disappointment that Virat Kohli won't be participating in the upcoming Test series between India and England. Stokes acknowledged Kohli's fighting spirit, competitiveness, and desire to win, highlighting his significant impact on the Indian team. Despite Kohli's absence, Stokes recognizes India's incredible batting depth and warns against underestimating them.
Indian cricket faces a significant transition as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin retire from Test cricket. Vikram Rathour acknowledges their immense contributions and respects their decisions. Ashwin reflects on their careers, highlighting Kohli's aggression and Rohit's potential. Meanwhile, young Vaibhav Suryavanshi shines in the IPL, scoring a match-winning half-century for Rajasthan Royals.
Mumbai Indians secured the final playoff spot in IPL 2025 with a dominant 59-run victory over Delhi Capitals. Suryakumar Yadav's explosive 73 and Naman Dhir's quickfire 24 propelled MI to a formidable total, while Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Santner dismantled DC's batting lineup. DC's batting order collapsed, resulting in a disappointing end to their playoff aspirations.
Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged the team's poor performance in this year's IPL. He stated that the team deserved its bottom position in the points table. Fleming highlighted the failure of the lower order and the lack of strong starts. He mentioned plans to address these issues in the next season.
Chennai Super Kings face a potential last-place finish in IPL 2025, intensifying scrutiny on MS Dhoni, who returned as captain mid-season. Despite Dhoni's decent batting performance, CSK's struggles, including overseas players' underperformance and veterans' poor form, have led to defeats. A loss to Rajasthan Royals further compounded their woes, increasing pressure ahead of their final game against Gujarat Titans.
