Shubman Gill rubbishes rumours of rift with Hardik Pandya through Instagram story
Star India batter Shubman Gill rubbished rumours of any rift with Hardik Pandya through his Instagram story after clips suggesting animosity between them gained traction on social media. At the toss for the Eliminator fixture of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT), the duo had an awkward exchange as they avoided the customary handshake between the two captains.advertisementThe moment went viral on social media as fans came up with their own theories and concluded that all is not well between the two India teammates. However, Gill nipped all such in the rumours in the bud, by offering clarification on his Instagram story. The GT captain shared a couple of photographs with Pandya and addressed the rumours as he 'Nothing but love. Don't believe everything you see on the internet' tagging Pandya in the story.
Shubman Gill Instagram Story (Source: Shubman Gill Instagram)
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PBKS vs MI: Shreyas Iyer leads Punjab Kings to IPL final after 11 years, to face RCB in summit clash for maiden title
Captain Shreyas Iyer led from the front as Punjab Kings defeated Mumbai Indians by five wickets in Qualifier 2 to qualify for an Indian Premier League (IPL) final after 11 years. The last time Punjab Kings played an IPL final was in 2014 when they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in the summit clash. Chasing Mumbai Indians' 203/6, Punjab Kings at 72/3 in the eight over, but Iyer played a blinder of a knock with an unbeaten 87 from 41 balls with five fours and eight sixes. Nehal Wadhera (48) and Josh Inglis (38) also contributed as Punjab Kings romped home in 19 overs. On June 3, it will be an all-red final with Punjab Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Notably, none of them have won an IPL trophy. It was also Iyer second IPL final in a row after the India batter guided Kolkata Knight Riders to title in IPL 2024. Once Mumbai Indians posted a 200-plus total, Punjab Kings required someone to play with composure and a sense of purpose, and they found the best man in their ranks putting his hand up. However, Iyer and Punjab Kings will also profusely thank the plucky Wadhera for exploring his two reprieves to peel off an important knock and adding 84 runs for the fourth wicket with his captain. Naman Dhir misjudged a catch off Mitchell Santner at deep midwicket and allowed a four in the ninth over while Boult spilled a catch at fine-leg off Hardik Pandya in the 10th over when Wadhera was on 13. Earlier, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav contributed 44 runs each as Mumbai Indians managed a competitive 203/6 after play started more than a hour late due to rain. Opener Jonny Bairstow (38 off 24 balls) once again gave a good start after Rohit Sharma's (8) dismissal, adding 51 runs with Tilak, who also forged a 72-run third wicket stand with Suryakumar. Naman Dhir's 37 off 18 balls was also crucial in the end. Yuzvendra Chahal (1/39), Vyshak Vijaykumar (1/30) and Kyle Jamieson (1/30) were among wickets for Punjab Kings while Azmatullah Omarzai (2/43) had the best figures.
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Kuldeep Yadav at Idea Exchange: ‘I was shocked when Rohit & Virat bhai retired. You want the seniors to stay for the big series'
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At that time, I was raw and not mature, but he handled me wonderfully, gave me the belief that I could be good in this format. He always supported me and I always enjoyed playing with him. I played and learned a lot with Ashwin. He supported me a lot in the last three-four years during the comeback. He would keep telling me how I should bowl in a particular situation, plus about pace, revs and run-up — we used to talk about everything in terms of bowling. Sandip G: In 2018, you played as the lone spinner at Lord's. Seven years later, how would you handle such a responsibility? At that time I did not have much idea. When you are not mature, you keep going through the motions. Now I have become much better in controlling the game, setting up batsmen and approaching a particular situation. That time, I had belief in my bowling that I could bowl the wrong'un and the skidder etc, but did not have the understanding about how to bowl differently to each batsman, how I should set the field for different batsmen. Now I read batsmen much better and know where and how to bowl and what field to set. On bowling against Joe Root | It is challenging. I feel his batting, especially against spinners, is very good. He has great control and is a very important player in the england test line-up. I have planned how to bowl to him Venkata Krishna B: In the time you led the spin attack in limited-overs cricket, you have been waiting patiently in Tests. Now you enter the WTC cycle as the lead spinner. Is there added pressure? I'm not thinking that way. In our team, we have (Ravindra) Jadeja as well. He has been playing since 2010 and he has got more experience than me. But in terms of leading the spin attack, I don't think it makes a huge difference. It doesn't create extra pressure. 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If I'm playing, I'll play as a bowler. No one will pick me for my batting. I've played as a genuine wicket-taker. Batting is just a plus. Devendra Pandey: They say a person's identity is known by the city he comes from. You are from Kanpur; have its 'smart, shrewd, chatur' traits been imbibed by you? It has helped a lot. If you are game-smart, it helps. A smart cricketer makes better decisions. You know how to escape being hit in bowling! But there have been a lot more 'street-smart' people than me here. Bahut tez (sharp) log jo insaan ko bech bhi dete hai (People who can even sell people!) I am not that chalaak (clever)! I used to move with some kids in U-15 and U-19 days jo coach ko hi bech dete (fool or scare coaches). I remember a player who was upset with the coach for not giving sufficient attention to him during training. During our U-15 days, a chap changed the way he looked, camouflaged himself, and covered himself in a bedsheet and blanket and stood outside the coach's room for half an hour. He waited for the coach to get up, see him, get scared and run for his life — which is exactly what happened. A lot of such incidents. If you survive here, wohi dhanya hai! (That itself is a blessing!) Devendra Pandey: How do you handle your finances? My father takes care of those things and I am just free to play. There are marriage talks of course and I guess it will happen soon. Not too soon as I have time. We plan to start a sports complex in Kanpur. The work has started where we will set up a cricket academy, football … and other sports as well. Hopefully, it will be ready in two-three years. Kids can have a future in sports, apart from cricket. I don't drive cars in Kanpur as it's one of the more dangerous places. Driving is difficult here. You will get 500 abuses in five minutes. I don't feel like driving here. A couple of years ago, I got a Mercedes. But I have driven it just once. Koi fayda nahi hai (no use). The roads aren't great either, potholes galore. When I come home, I just feel like relaxing at home. Devendra Pandey: You come across as a happy, cheerful person. Did you get into fights growing up in Kanpur? One should be happy. Keep expectations to your game; not from life in general. I am content, not greedy. Got to be peaceful.I don't fight. As a kid, I remember a boy who used to sit near me at school, he used to fight with me and bahut maara bhi hai mujhe (has hit me a lot too). Sriram Veera: Tell us about your banter with Rinku Singh that earned you lot of criticism. Oh yes. Rinku is ghar ka ladka. He has stayed at my home a lot. He is like a younger brother. He has been with me from U-16 days. People saw on camera that I hit him but let me tell you he is a kalakaar (character). What can I tell them about our relationship? People don't understand, and I can't keep explaining these things.
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'I just wait for such games': Nehal Wadhera shines with crucial knock in IPL Qualifier 2
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 2 (ANI): Shreyas Iyer rose to the occasion with a captain's knock that will be etched in Punjab Kings' (PBKS) history, as his unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls guided the franchise to a five-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the second qualifier of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at Ahmedabad on Monday. With this result, PBKS stormed into their second-ever IPL final, their first since 2014, ending an 11-year wait. Chasing a challenging total of 204 against the five-time champions, Iyer remained the fulcrum of the innings, showing poise and power in equal measure but equally important was the contribution from Nehal Wadhera, who played a vital hand in the middle overs with a composed 48 off 29 deliveries, striking four boundaries and two sixes, and more importantly, forming a match-defining 84-run stand with his skipper. Reflecting on his performance, Wadhera revealed his mindset heading into the high-stakes clash, "I just wait for such games, couldn't be more eager to play such a knock in a crucial game like the semi-final (Qualifier 2). This will be close to my heart." Having been part of the Mumbai Indians setup in the past, Wadhera admitted that prior knowledge of the opposition helped him tailor his approach, "I have been with MI for two years and I have played them before, so I know what they could try and I changed a few things in my batting accordingly." The southpaw was full of praise for Iyer's clarity and calm during the chase. "He (Shreyas) was pretty clear that I just should see and hit the ball accordingly," Wadhera noted. "If it was on my radar, I would just go for it. I needed to convert the balls into boundaries and it turned out to be good," he noted. His strategic hitting helped Punjab maintain the tempo of the chase. By the time Ashwani Kumar dismissed him, PBKS had already crossed the 150-run mark, with the equation well in their favour. Wadhera also lauded his captain's ability to steer the innings under pressure, "He (Shreyas) is a chase master and proved it today as well. A lot of learnings from him and I hope we carry forward the momentum and win against RCB as well." With Iyer finishing things off in style and the middle order contributing around him, PBKS crossed the finish line with an over to spare, setting up a title clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Tuesday in Ahmedabad. (ANI)
