Shaun Pollocks plays best batter of IPL 2025 game, picks GT player over Virat Kohli, Nicholas Pooran
Shaun Pollock. (Photo by)
Shaun Pollock
picked Gujarat Titans'
Sai Sudharsan
over rest of the pack as the best batter of
Indian Premier League
(
IPL
) 2025 season. In a video, the former South African captain played an eliminator game format to cycle through the options.
It started with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer in which the ex-all-rounder picked the Rajasthan Royals player Jaiswal. In the subsequent steps in the snap video posted by
Cricbuzz
, he would pick through options like Mitchell Marsh,
Nicholas Pooran
, Rohit Sharma, Jos Buttler, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Buttler would edge multiple competitors, per Pollock, before being dethroned by Sai Sudharsan. The Gujarat Titans left-hander would then eclipse Priyansh Arya and KL Rahul.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World
5minstory.com
Undo
Sai Sudharsan is at the top of the
Orange Cap standings
as of April 27 with 417 runs in the season from eight matches. He's scored an average of 52.13 and at a brisk strike rate of 152.18. He's piled up five fifties this season - same as Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Kohli.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
11 minutes ago
- Time of India
Olivia Dunne is all smiles in her summer swimsuit look while enjoying downtime with Paul Skenes
Paul Skenes' girlfriend Olivia Dunne enjoys a laid-back golf day as MLB season heats up (Getty Images) Pittsburgh Pirates' rising star Paul Skenes has been nothing short of electric on the mound this season, yet his efforts haven't translated into consistent wins. On Sunday, the 23-year-old right-hander turned in another gem, pitching into the eighth inning for the third time in his last five outings. He gave up just one unearned run in the third but was again handed a no-decision. Olivia Dunne ditches gym gear for golf swings and sunshine with Paul Skenes on the east coast Despite boasting a stunning 1.52 ERA over 53.1 innings in recent appearances, Skenes has come away with only one win in his last eight starts. Overall, he's 4-6 across 14 games this season, but his remarkable 1.88 ERA and minuscule 0.84 WHIP clearly underscore his dominance. Off the field, Skenes seems to have found a sense of balance thanks to his girlfriend, Olivia Dunne. The social media sensation has been offering fans a closer look at their downtime together. Her recent Instagram post titled 'east coast summer' delighted followers with a carousel of serene snapshots—including a candid of Skenes golfing, a quiet escape from the pitching pressure. Dunne, who rose to fame as an LSU gymnast, has effortlessly transitioned into a model and influencer. Just days ago, she captured the spotlight at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Fashion Show. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Strutting in a black-and-white polka-dot swimsuit adorned with red bows, she stole the show with an unexpected gymnastics split at the end of the runway, drawing enthusiastic applause from the crowd. She later returned to the runway in a "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit" crop top and bikini combo, a nod to her cover model status this year alongside Jordan Chiles, Salma Hayek, and Lauren Chan. Her recent Instagram story painted a personal yet star-studded picture: cherries and sunbathing with her dog Roux, beach walks with her sister Julz, and hanging out with influencer Alix Earle. A Pirates hat, a stunning view of PNC Park, and a supportive presence at Skenes' games made it clear that Dunne is wholeheartedly cheering on her MLB beau. From flipping on the runway to cheering in the stands, Dunne continues to prove she's more than just a pretty face. While Skenes dominates on the mound, she's winning hearts both online and in real life—one post, one cheer, and one bold runway split at a time. Also Read: Meet the passionate singer from New York, aiming to hit all 30 MLB stadiums with her national anthem performances
Time of India
11 minutes ago
- Time of India
FIFA World Cup 2026: Canada, USA and Mexico brace for World Cup extravaganza
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on a year from now, on June 11 (Image via AP) The largest and most complex World Cup in history kicks off in just over a year's time, with the United States, Canada and Mexico co-hosting the football extravaganza against a backdrop of political tension triggered by Donald Trump. Forty-eight teams and millions of fans are set to descend on North America for the first ever World Cup shared by three nations, with the tournament getting under way on June 11 next year. In theory, the 23rd edition of the most popular sporting spectacle on the planet has all the makings of a successful tournament. An array of venues ranging from Mexico's iconic Estadio Azteca to the glittering $5 billion SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will play host to 104 games spread over nearly six weeks. The United States will host the bulk of those fixtures - 78 - with Canada and Mexico staging 13 each. All games from the quarter-finals onwards will be held in the United States, with the tournament culminating in the final at New Jersey's 82,500-seater MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026. 'Like 104 Super Bowls American officials believe the return of the World Cup to the country - 32 years after the United States hosted the 1994 finals -- could represent a watershed moment for football in the country. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo Poll Do you believe the 2026 World Cup will successfully boost football's popularity in the United States? Yes, definitely No, I don't think so "The World Cup is going to raise the attention of the sport in ways that nobody ever dreamed of," said Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer. FIFA's President Gianni Infantino meanwhile has been hyping next year's finals as the equivalent of "104 Super Bowls", contrasting the World Cup's estimated six billion viewers to the 120 million or so who tune in for the climax of the NFL season. There are historical precedents which suggest the hype might be justified. The 1994 World Cup in the United States remains the best attended World Cup in history, with an average of 68,600 fans flocking to each game. Yet while organisers eagerly anticipate a commercial success, with one FIFA estimate suggesting it could generate a mammoth $11 billion in revenues, questions over other aspects of the tournament remain. The 48 teams - up from 32 in 2022 - will be spread into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout rounds, and the eight best third-placed teams joining them to make up a last 32. That expansion is likely to reduce the sense of jeopardy in the first round, a problem seen in other major championships which have increased in size in recent years. The curious case of the Visa backlogs There is also the question of how the polarising policies of US President Trump may impact the tournament. Since taking office, Trump has launched a global trade war, repeatedly threatened to annex World Cup co-host Canada and launched an immigration crackdown at US borders which has seen overseas visitors from countries like France, Britain, Germany and Australia either detained or denied entry in recent months. Trump this week signed a travel ban on 12 countries including Iran, who have qualified for the World Cup, but the ban will not apply to players taking part in the tournament. Trump, who is chairman of a White House task force overseeing preparations for the World Cup, says overseas fans travelling to the tournament have nothing to fear. "Every part of the US government will be working to ensure that these events are safe and successful, and those traveling to America to watch the competition have a seamless experience during every part of their visit," Trump said last month. FIFA chief Infantino, who has forged a close relationship with Trump, echoed that point, insisting that America was ready to "welcome the world." "Everyone who wants to come here to enjoy, to have fun, to celebrate the game will be able to do that," Infantino said. With one year to go however, it is by no means clear that Infantino's pledge will hold up. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that some embassy staff may be required to work double-shifts to expedite visa processing, citing the example of Colombia, where US visa wait times are currently 15 months. "If you haven't applied for a visa from Colombia already, you probably won't get here in time for the World Cup unless we go to double shifts," Rubio told lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Those fans who do make the trip to North America may also find themselves having to fork out a small fortune due to FIFA's reported decision to use dynamic pricing to determine ticket prices. That system, where prices on ticketing websites fluctuate according to demand, may well force fans to shell out thousands of dollars to obtain tickets for the highest profile games. "Dynamic pricing does not belong in football because it is an exploitation of fans' loyalty," Ronan Evain, the executive director of the Football Supporters Europe fan group told The Times. "It would be a fiasco for FIFA to use it for the World Cup."
Time of India
11 minutes ago
- Time of India
World Cup 2026: Donald Trump's trade and immigration policies cloud preparations, seamless for fans
With all the visa backlogs and commotion surrounding the case of overseas supporters, will it really be a smooth experience for fans across the globe for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? (Image via Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) When the United States, Mexico and Canada launched their joint bid for the 2026 World Cup in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, the prevailing mood was unmistakeably upbeat. Peace, love and harmony: three countries joining forces in a "United Bid" to roll out the welcome mat for the most popular sporting carnival on the planet, a beacon of hope in a polarised world. "We don't believe sport can solve all the issues in the world," US Soccer chief Sunil Gulati told an audience at a Manhattan skyscraper. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "But ... we believe this is a hugely positive signal and symbol of what we can do together in unifying people, especially in our three countries." Fast forward eight years, and the soaring optimism that accompanied the bid's launch in 2017 has run into some stiff geopolitical headwinds, the re-election of President Donald Trump casting a pall of uncertainty over preparations for the event in ways that few could have imagined. While Trump has been a staunch backer of the World Cup from the outset, the US leader has nevertheless taken a combative stance to co-hosts Mexico and Canada since returning to the White House, from trade wars to border crackdowns, while simultaneously calling for Canada to become the "cherished 51st state" of the US. Poll Do you believe that geopolitical tensions could impact the 2026 World Cup attendance? Yes, it will deter fans No, fans will attend regardless That in turn has led to Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney vowing to pivot away from the US, declaring in March that "the old relationship we had with the United States - based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation - is over." 'Tension's a good thing' Trump, who enjoys a close friendship with Gianni Infantino, the president of world football's governing body FIFA, the organisers of the World Cup, has laughed off suggestions that trade turmoil could impact the tournament. "Tension's a good thing, I think it makes it much more exciting," Trump said in March when asked how his administration's tariffs against Canada and Mexico might affect the World Cup. Trump's policies, though, already appear to be hurting US tourism, with hotel search site Trivago last month reporting double-digit percentage declines in bookings to the US from visitors from Japan, Canada and Mexico. World Cup 2022: New features added to the FIFA 2022 football Figures from the US government's National Travel and Tourism Office released in April found an 11.6% decline in visits to the US from overseas in March compared to a year earlier. Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College in Northampton, Massachussetts whose books include "Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup", believes Trump's economic policies could reduce the number of international fans travelling to the World Cup. But, Zimbalist added, "in terms of the actual playing of the games, the tariffs don't affect athletes." "So unless the political situation internationally deteriorates further and people decide to boycott the games in large numbers, I wouldn't anticipate a very large impact," he told AFP. 'Seamless experience' for fans? Other commentators have questioned whether World Cup fans will be deterred by the Trump administration's hardline border crackdown, which has seen visitors from countries including France, Germany, Australia and Canada either turned away at the border or subjected to harsh interrogation and detention. "Will soccer fans really want to crisscross our borders right now - and be squinted at by guards simply because they speak a Romance language or risk being held on a cold floor in a detention cage?," Washington Post columnist Sally Jenkins asked recently. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments The Trump administration's 2026 World Cup Task Force last month insisted all fans would be welcome, saying football supporters could look forward to a "seamless experience" when visiting the US. Vice President JD Vance though cautioned that foreign visitors would have to leave at the end of the tournament. "We'll have visitors, probably from close to 100 countries," said Vance, the vice-chair of the World Cup task force. "We want them to come. We want them to celebrate. But when the time is up, they'll have to go home." John Zerafa, a Britain-based sports communications strategist, believes the Trump administration may need to "short circuit" current visa processing wait times in order to facilitate large numbers of foreign fans at the World Cup. "I think the US and the Trump administration will go out of their way to try and make that process as smooth as possible," Zerafa told AFP. "But there's also the other part of how that stacks with the MAGA agenda and closing borders. There's a real dichotomy there for Trump and the MAGA base - you're letting the world in but at the same time you're trying to shut the world out," Zerafa added. "Those two things are very difficult to co-exist, and which one is going to win the day? I can certainly envisage examples of fans applying for tickets, but not being granted visas. And you only need a couple of those stories to emerge in the runup to the World Cup to start painting a difficult backdrop for FIFA and the US.
