BCCI considers Gavaskar’s advice about the ‘no-entertainment’ part in the remainder of the IPL
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is seriously considering Sunil Gavaskar’s advice of rejecting the entertainment part in the remainder of the IPL, resuming from 17th May. Gavaskar urged the BCCI to organize the remaining 17 matches without cheerleaders and DJs. According to a report from India Today, the BCCI is now seriously considering the suggestion made by Gavaskar. IPL 2025 was suspended for a week on 8th May amidst cross-border tensions with Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The heinous attack claimed the lives of as many as 26 civilians. “The Indian cricket board will make a decision after Sunil Gavaskar urged the BCCI to stage the remaining 17 matches without cheerleaders and DJs,” the report said. As a gesture for those who died during the Pahalgam attack, Gavaskar felt that there should not be any entertainment (apart from the sport on display) in the remaining IPL matches. “What I would really like to see is these are the last few matches. I think we have had about 60 games or thereabouts. I think it will be around 15 or 16 matches in the remaining phase of the League. I would sincerely apologize for what has happened, and some families have lost their near and dear ones. I would like all the show-sha baji that goes with it not to be there. It should be just a game to be played. Let there be a crowd but no music. Let’s not have the DJs screaming in the middle of an over. None of that,” Gavaskar told Sports Today. He also stated, “Let’s just have a tournament, the balance of a tournament. No dancing girls, nothing. Just cricket would be a nice way to respect the sentiment of the families who have lost their near and dear ones.”
BCB wants Mustafizur to prioritize national commitment above IPL
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wants Mustafizur Rahman to put national commitment above IPL 2025 duties. The pacer was signed as a replacement for Jake Fraser-McGurk by Delhi Capitals for the remainder of IPL 2025. However, Rahman boarded a flight to the UAE for the upcoming T20I series on the same day he signed with DC. As per Cricbuzz, a BCB director claimed that while the board has no problem in allowing Rahman to play for DC in IPL 2025, it wants him to prioritize national duties. “We are not saying that we won’t let Mustafizur play in the IPL for the Delhi Capitals, but at the same time, there is a thing called national commitment, and he needs to fulfill that,” a BCB director said. The official said that it would be unfair for Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain, who were a part of PSL but are traveling to the UAE for the T20I series, if Rahman was given a NOC. The BCB director claimed that in that case, the other two would also have to be released from the squad. “Along with that, if we had released him in that case, what would we have done with the two cricketers who took part in PSL, as they could have asked why we were not releasing them?” he added. For the uninformed, the Bangladesh cricket team are set to play a 2-match T20I series against the UAE from May 17 to 19. Understanding that foreign players may not return, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to allow teams to use temporary replacements. And so, the Capitals paid Mustafizur Rs 6 crore to join them. The move made sense since Mitchell Starc might not return either. And having a like-for-like replacement for him seems like a sound decision.
BCCI to wait for next few days before trying to resume IPL this may!
Amidst the rumors about resumption of the deferred IPL a new report by Cricbuzz has revealed that BCCI is committed to conducting the IPL in May and is on the watch-out for next three days. “We have suspended the league for one week. We are not looking beyond that at this stage,” a BCCI source on 9th May was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. The source added, “We are serious about it. Watch out for the next three days.” The Cricbuzz report suggests that in case there is a ceasefire in the next few days, then BCCI will fast track the schedule of IPL with a few double headers. The availability of overseas players could be an issue during a resumed IPL, given most of these players have already departed for their country or are set to leave. Reportedly, BCCI will leave this matter to the franchises to handle. The Indian cricket board is not keen on cancelling the Bangladesh series in August to conduct the remaining leg of IPL, given that it would overlap with The Hundred (nine English players are part of IPL squads). Meanwhile, conducting the IPL in September would make it clash with the Caribbean Premier League (Eight West Indies players are currently in the IPL).
Malan predicts IPL will resume in September after the Test-series against England
Former England cricketer Dawid Malan predicts the remainder of the IPL can resume in September after the five-test series between India and England gets over. The ongoing Indian Premier League has been suspended due to tensions between India and Pakistan. However, this is not the first time IPL has been suspended mid-way through. During the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2021, the tournament was halted and resumed in September later in the year. Malan stated while speaking on Al Arabiya, “If it doesn’t happen in India or Sri Lanka in a week like that, I suppose they will start in September. They got a massive Test series coming up against England in a few months, and the IPL has to finish before that or start after that; logistically, it is quite a headache for the organizers. I guess they have to wait and see how next week plays out in terms of the safety concerns of players and people of both countries.” The five-match Test series is beginning on 20th June makes it one of the earliest starts for India in the English summer, with their last two Test tours mostly being played in the months of August. The five Tests will be played at Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and the Oval from 20th June to 4th August.
ECB says they are ready to host remainder of the IPL
The England Cricket Board (ECB) has agreed to host the remainder of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League in September, according to a report in The Guardian. The world’s most popular cricket league was suspended for a week on Friday amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Ahead of the league’s official cancellation, an IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala on Thursday was called off as a precautionary measure. ECB chief executive Richard Gould has come forward and offered the BCCI his support if India fails to resume the IPL after a week-long suspension. The report goes on to say that there are currently no “active discussions” between the two boards. However, a similar offer was reportedly made by the ECB in 2021, when the IPL was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the UAE eventually stepped in as the stand-in hosts. Meanwhile the former India captain, Sourav Ganguly is optimistic that BCCI will be able to complete the IPL despite it has been paused for a week. “I have seen today that the IPL is suspended for 7 days. The BCCI will complete this. They are efficient. During COVID, it was another emergency. I am sure the BCCI will complete it. A COVID-like situation is different. BCCI will work as per Indian government guidelines,” stated Ganguly while speaking to India Today.
Indian Premier League suspended for a week due to India-Pakistan’s ongoing clash
The Indian Premier League has been suspended for one week in the wake of the rising tensions along the border between India and Pakistan. After the dramatic events of Thursday, the scheduled match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings had to be suspended in the middle of the game. BCCI’s official statement read: “The decision was taken by the IPL Governing Council after due consultation with all key stakeholders following the representations from most of the franchisees, who conveyed the concern and sentiments of their players, and also the views of the broadcaster, sponsors and fans, while the BCCI reposes full faith in the strength and preparedness of our armed forces, the Board considered it prudent to act in the collective interest of all stakeholders.” Royal Challengers Bengaluru were scheduled to play Lucknow Super Giants in Bengaluru at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. However, Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Mumbai Indians occupy the top four spots before the remainder of the league was suspended. Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have officially been out of the race, while Kolkata Knight Riders, too, are practically out of play-off contention. Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants are still fighting for the fourth (last) spot. India’s former Test captain Rohit Sharma supported the decision and wrote on his social media page, ‘With every passing moment, with every decision taken I feel extremely proud of our Indian Army, Indian Airforce & Indian Navy. Our warriors are standing tall for our nation’s pride. It’s important for every Indian to be responsible and refrain from spreading or believing any fake news. Stay safe, everyone! Virat Kohli also welcomed the decision and wrote on his social media page, ‘We stand in solidarity with, and salute our armed forces for fiercely protecting our country in these difficult times. We are forever indebted to our heroes for their unwavering bravery and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifices they and their families make for our great nation.’ Significantly, former England international Michael Vaughan has offered an alternative thought for the IPL organizer writing on his social media page, ‘I wonder if it’s possible to finish the IPL in the UK .. We have all the venues and the Indian players can then stay on for the Test series, just a thought?’
AB de Villiers retorts to the critics of Kohli after his blistering knock against CSK
His former teammate, South African star AB de Villiers, has taken a bold stand against Virat Kohli’s critics, particularly targeting remarks made by legends Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag. After Kohli’s sparkling 62-run innings against Chennai Super Kings, helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a narrow two-run victory and the top of the IPL points table, De Villiers remarked, “Virat is always there. He is Mr. Safety for RCB. When he is there, you don’t have to fear. Never fear when Virat is near. That is the story. Nothing has ever changed, and what I want to tell all of you media people, I haven’t forgotten. I have the brain of an elephant. To all my journalist friends out there, I love you guys. But remember when you said Virat bats too slow, right? Virat was batting at almost a 200-strike rate last night. Eat that.” In an Instagram post, Gavaskar and Sehwag questioned Kohli’s strike rate. Sehwag had notably criticized Kohli for scoring the joint-slowest century in IPL history, suggesting he should have accelerated after reaching his half-century. Gavaskar, too, had engaged in a well-documented back-and-forth with Kohli over his scoring pace. Kohli’s performance this season has been nothing short of stellar. He has surpassed the 500-run mark in an IPL season for a record eighth time, amassing 505 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 143.47. His tally of seven fifty-plus scores is his third-best in an IPL season, following 11 such scores in 2016 and eight in 2023. This dominance has placed him at the forefront of the Orange Cap race, narrowly leading over Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan.
SRH ropes in ‘history-maker’ in Ranji Trophy as a replacement of Smaran Ravichandran
Vidarbha all-rounder Harsh Dubey has joined the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the remainder of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). The 22-year-old replaced Smaran Ravichandran, who is already ruled out of the injury. Dubey will join the Sunrizers at Rs 30 lakhs. Earlier, Ravichandran was roped in as a replacement for Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who played two games before missing out due to injury. Dubey represents Vidarbha in domestic cricket, having taken 127 wickets and scored 941 runs across 16 T-20s, 20 List-A, and 18 first-class matches. Dubey scripted history after setting the record for most wickets in a single edition of the Ranji Trophy. In the 2024-25 edition of the first-class tournament, Dubey took 69 wickets from 10 matches at an economy rate of 2.66 with seven five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls to show for his efforts. Based on his stupendous performance, Vidarbha went on to become the Ranji champions for the third time. They won the final against Kerala in February at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. In the previous edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Dubey took only four wickets from six games at an economy rate of 7.50. The Maharashtra-born Dubey also has nine half-centuries to his name in first-class and List-A cricket with a top score of 76 to his name.
Love for RCB? Or a new business approach? Content creator’s entertaining poster across Bangalore; ‘Donate Rs 10 for RCB’
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) remains one of the most talked-about franchises, with a massive fan base and some of the biggest names in cricket. Still, the franchise has yet to win an IPL title, and its struggle has become both a rallying cry and a meme. Riding that wave of fandom and humor, content creator Sarthak Sachdeva devised a social experiment that quickly went viral. He printed QR codes linked to his payment account with the words “Donate Rs.10 for RCB Goodluck” and pasted them across public places, walls, poles, and random street corners. The video starts with Sarthak quietly sticking the QR codes around the city. What begins as a seemingly silly idea takes a surprising turn as people actually start noticing the codes, scanning them, and making payments, all for the love of RCB or perhaps just for the laugh. By the end of the day, he had received Rs.1,200 from random strangers. The quirky video racked up 3.5 million views online. Many took to the comments section to react. A user wrote, ‘Naya business idea.’ Another added, “Iske baad agr RCB na jeete toh ro dungi” RCB is currently second on the points table with 7 wins from 10 matches, all of which have come in away games, a testament to their ability to perform under pressure. However, their only losses this season have been at home, raising concerns as they enter the final stretch of the league. With four matches left, including three at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB will need to overcome their inconsistent home record to maintain momentum.
LSG set to introduce 156.7 kmph speedster against Mumbai Indians
Lucknow Super Giants look set to unleash their express pacer Mayank Yadav in the high-profile clash against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Sunday. Mayank, who has been sidelined since the start of the season due to an injury, looks ready to be thrown in the mix, as per a social media post by the Lucknow franchise. LSG, who are placed 6th in the points table, are in desperate need of a win in order to resurrect their season. But, they are coming up against Mumbai Indians, a side that has won four matches on the trot. Placed fourth and sixth respectively, MI and LSG both have an impressive 10 points in their kitty and are only separated by the net run rate, having won five matches each and lost four in nine games so far. While these two teams will battle for on-field supremacy at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai’s unrelenting heat and humidity will also play its part in testing the players’ readiness to give it all in adverse conditions. For the visitors, a negative NRR of -0.054 is something they would be keen to improve while hoping that their skipper Rishabh Pant can get a big score under his belt. Pant has managed a lowly 106 runs in nine matches this season while shuffling across batting positions to discover what works for him, but none of his efforts seem to have worked for the India wicketkeeper-batter.
