Latest news with #FafduPlessis
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Best performances in Major League Cricket
MI NY won MLC in 2023 and Washington Freedom won the title in 2024 (Image via X/@WSHFreedom) From its birth two years ago, Major League Cricket (MLC) has taken shape as the premier T20 competition in the United States. The competition came into existence in 2023. With the perfect balance of domestic talent and foreign stars, the month-long tournament is a spectacle for those that enjoy the sport. MI New York were crowned as champions in the inaugural edition and Washington Freedom triumphed in 2024. The past two editions have featured some of the most exciting and thrilling clashes, with several standout players. Familiar names like Nicholas Pooran and Faf du Plessis have topped the run-scoring charts, while domestic stars like Saurabh Netravalkar also made headlines. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! With the 2025 edition set to commence on June 13, here's a look at some of the best performances in the MLC till date. Steve Smith (2024 final) : The Washington Freedom skipper played a huge role in his side clinching their first MLC title in 2024. The Australian finished the 2024 campaign with the second-most runs and joint-most for the franchise (336 runs). In the final against San Francisco Unicorns, Smith was adjudged Player of the Match for his crucial 52-ball 88, despite being pitted against the likes of Pat Cummins and Haris Rauf. Saurabh Netravalkar's 6/9 vs San Francisco Unicorns (2023) : Netravalkar's spell of six wickets against San Francisco Unicorns in the inaugural edition of the MLC remains the best bowling figures in the competition. His inimitable spell for Washington Freedom also helped him clinch third spot in the list of highest wicket-takers in the 2023 edition. In the 2024 campaign, Netravalkar shone brilliantly with the ball. He took 15 wickets last year, beating the second-highest wicket-taker Rachin Ravindra by 3 scalps. Muhammad Mohsin's 4/14 vs San Francisco Unicorns (2024) : The Texas Super Kings all-rounder made headlines with a sensational spell in July 2024. The Pakistani cricketer's immaculate spell against the San Francisco Unicorns remains his best in the competition. The 29-year-old claimed 4 SFU wickets, while conceding just 13 runs in the process. Mohsin also maintained his economy rate at an impressive 3.39. Faf du Plessis's 72 off 47 balls for Texas Super Kings eliminates title holders MI NY (2024) : Even though TSK failed to make it to the final of the MLC in the 2023 and 2024 editions, star man and skipper Faf du Plessis led the way in runs for his side and topped the charts as well. His 420 from 8 innings had some memorable performances along the way. Notably, the South African made a brilliant 72 off 47 balls for TSK in the 2024 Eliminator to knock out reigning champions MI New York. Nicholas Pooran's 137* for MI New York vs Seattle Orcas : The West Indian batsman topped the run-scoring charts in the MLC 2023 season. As MI NY won the MLC title in the first season, Pooran set a record that is yet to be broken. His score of 137 not out against the Seattle Orcas remains till date, the highest score by a batter in MLC. Incidentally, the player saved his very best for last, as the knock came in the final - a perfect stage to shine. Chasing a target of 184, the left-handed batter made easy work of the target, helping MI chase things down with four overs and 7 wickets to spare. With the 2025 season approaching, fans can expect more fierce match-ups, increased firepower and planning from all six sides. The first game of the season features the San Francisco Unicorns taking on 2024 champions Washington Freedom on June 12. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
IPL 2025: Faf du Plessis wants film with franchise owner Preity Zinta 'to happen'
The Indian Premier League 2025 is about to conclude, with players and owners of its franchises staying in the headlines. One of them is Bollywood actor Preity Zinta, who co-owns Punjab Kings. From cheering for her team from stands to interacting with players from both sides and giving jerseys to the fans, Zinta always makes sure to light up the stadium with her constant support. Now it seems South African batter Faf du Plessis is also a fan of the Veer Zaara actress. After the conclusion of the match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings last week, a picture featuring the two went viral on social media. One of the users on X posted the image, tagging both du Plessis and Zinta, saying the two should feature in a movie. The 40-year-old batter seemed to take the post in good sport, replying, "Make it happen".
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Faf du Plessis, Travis Head, Saurabh Netravalkar among top performers in MLC Season 2
Faf du Plessis (X Photo) The second season of Major League Cricket (MLC) in 2024 witnessed a significant expansion, growing from 19 matches in the inaugural 2023 edition to 25 matches. Washington Freedom emerged as the dominant force, topping the league stage with five wins from seven games (including one no result) and went on to clinch the title with a commanding 96-run win over San Francisco Unicorns in the final. The playoffs also featured Texas Super Kings and defending champions MI New York, but it was Washington's all-round strength that shone through the tournament. Their players dominated both the run-scorers and wicket-takers charts, underlining their superiority across departments. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Despite Washington's team success, the top run-scorer of the season was Texas Super Kings' veteran batter Faf du Plessis , who amassed 420 runs in 8 games at a blistering strike rate of 171.42. He was followed by Washington Freedom's Australian duo Steve Smith and Travis Head, who both scored 336 runs. Head was particularly impactful and was deservedly named Most Valuable Player of the season. Who's that IPL player? San Francisco Unicorns' aggressive batter Finn Allen also impressed with 306 runs from nine matches, while Texas Super Kings' Devon Conway rounded off the top five with 293 runs. On the bowling front, Washington's Saurabh Netravalkar led the charts with 15 wickets, followed by teammate Rachin Ravindra with 12. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A perfect start needs the perfect ride – Shine 125! Honda Learn More Undo Marco Jansen (Washington Freedom) and Cameron Gannon (Seattle Orcas) shared the third spot with 11 wickets each. More Than a Team: The Rise of CSK & the Whistle Podu Army The joint fifth position in the wicket-takers list featured a four-way tie with 10 wickets apiece – Glenn Maxwell and Lockie Ferguson (Washington), Hassan Khan (San Francisco Unicorns), and Rashid Khan (MI New York). Notably, Hassan Khan was recognised as the Domestic Player of the Season for his crucial performances. Overall, Washington Freedom's dominance ensured their players featured prominently among the season's standout performers, making MLC Season 2 a showcase of both international firepower and domestic promise. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Make it happen', says Faf du Plessis as fans want him to star in a royal romance movie with Preity Zinta after their photo goes viral
Delhi Capitals ended their IPL campaign with a win over Punjab Kings , while a post-match moment between actress Preity Zinta and stand-in DC skipper Faf du Plessis sparked fan interest online. The Indian Premier League brought together two prominent figures from cricket and Bollywood on Saturday at Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium . Punjab Kings co-owner and actress Preity Zinta attended her team's league match against Delhi Capitals, where DC's stand-in captain Faf du Plessis played a leading role in a viral moment after the game. Following the match, a fan's tweet featuring a photo of Zinta and du Plessis gained attention on social media platform X. The fan suggested the pair should be cast in a film together, calling them a 'visual perfection' and proposing a sports drama or royal romance. 'Someone please cast @faf1307 and @realpreityzinta in a movie already. He's got the action-hero vibe. She's aging like fine wine. Put them in a sports drama or a royal romance — don't waste this visual perfection!' — RaaviLikhitha (@RaaviLikhitha) In response, du Plessis quoted the tweet with a short and playful reply: Live Events 'Make it happen' The image of the two went viral on X shortly after. Delhi finishes strong, Punjab faces setback On the field, Delhi Capitals ended their season with a six-wicket win over Punjab Kings. Delhi chased down a target of 207, finishing at 208-4. Sameer Rizvi scored an unbeaten 58 off 25 balls — his first half-century in the IPL — leading the successful run chase. Punjab Kings had earlier posted a total of 206-8. Despite the loss, Punjab has already secured a playoff spot but now faces a more difficult path to a top-two finish. Du Plessis reviews Delhi's IPL journey After the match, Faf du Plessis reflected on Delhi Capitals' overall performance this season. He said the team showed promise but lacked the consistency needed to secure a top-four position. 'Finishing on a high is important. Fifth is a fair reflection of our season, but we need to be more consistent to be in the top-four,' he said. Delhi started the season strong with four wins but could not maintain momentum in later games. Du Plessis pointed to various factors for the team's inconsistency. 'One of the great mysteries. Combination of confidence, lack of form and basics,' he said. He also commented on how close margins often determine outcomes in the IPL. 'When you're playing well, small margins go with you. Every single time, there were five-six over windows in both batting and bowling where we let it slip,' he added. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
'Make It Happen': Faf du Plessis Set For Fan-Favourite Movie Opposite Preity Zinta
Last Updated: Faf du Plessis and Preity Zinta's viral picture has sparked fans' demand for a movie featuring the duo. Star South Africa and Delhi Capitals batter Faf du Plessis has given his nod to a possible movie starring Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta, after a picture of the duo went viral on the internet after the franchises' match on Saturday, May 24, making fans go gaga over the pair and ask for a movie featuring the two. Du Plessis and Zinta caught up after the weekend clash as fans posted a picture of them standing together. With a dust storm intervening in the chat at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Zinta's hair was seen flying in the image, which gave complete Bollywood vibes, making fans go berserk online. 'Someone please cast @faf1307 and @realpreityzinta in a movie already 😭🔥He's got the action-hero vibe," a user tweeted on Sunday afternoon. Someone please cast @faf1307 and @realpreityzinta in a movie already 😭🔥He's got the action-hero vibe. She's aging like fine wine. Put them in a sports drama or a royal romance — don't waste this visual perfection! 🎬👑 #FafDuPlessis #PreityZinta #AgelessIcons — Likhitha_raavi (@RaaviLikhitha) May 25, 2025 'Make it happen," du Plessis replied soon enough. Although du Plessis and Zinta's interaction was heartwarming, Delhi dealt a telling blow to Punjab's chances of finishing in the top two. Young Sameer Rizvi struck a high-quality, maiden fifty after Karun Nair marked his return to the Indian Test team with a crucial innings as Delhi pulled off a six-wicket victory over Punjab. Set a stiff target of 207, Delhi completed the task in the final over with Rizvi remaining unbeaten on 58 off 25 deliveries, which included five sixes and three boundaries. Nair had earlier contributed 44 in 27 balls with two sixes and five fours. This was after Marcus Stoinis brought his big-hitting abilities to the fore following Shreyas Iyer's sparkling fifty as Punjab posted a challenging 206/8. If PBKS manage to beat the Mumbai Indians on Monday, they will confirm a top two finish for themselves, which will ensure they get two chances to bag a spot in the final of IPL 2025. Watch CNN-News18 here. Stay updated with all the latest news on IPL 2025, including the schedule, Points Table, IPL Orange Cap, and IPL Purple Cap. Get latest Cricket news, live score and match results on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
