Latest news with #Omarzai
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Virat Kohli stunned as Omarzai takes superb running catch to dismiss RCB star
Virat Kohli was left in disbelief after Azmatullah Omarzai pulled off a spectacular caught-and-bowled to dismiss the Royal Challengers Bengaluru star in the 15th over of the IPL 2025 final against Punjab dug in a short ball that rose sharply, and Kohli attempted a pull shot but only managed a top edge. With no fielder stationed at mid-wicket, the ball went high into the air. Omarzai sprinted towards it but ran into the non-striker, Liam Livingstone, who was backing up for a single. Despite the unexpected obstruction, the Afghan pacer showed remarkable presence of mind and athleticism to recover, regain speed, and dive full length to complete the catch with both hands. Smart bowling fantastic catchAzmatullah Omarzai's brilliance sees Virat Kohli walking back At 132/4 after 15 overs, predict #RCB's final score Updates | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025advertisementOmarzai ensured the ball didn't pop out as he landed hard on his elbows. It was a moment of brilliance under pressure, and a significant turning point in the match. Kohli, who had been looking to anchor the innings, was dismissed for 43 off 35 balls, including three boundaries. IPL 2025 Final: UpdatesIt was a crucial breakthrough for Punjab Kings. Kohli's approach in the final raised eyebrows. Known for stepping up in big matches, the former RCB captain took a conservative route, choosing to rotate the strike rather than go for big shots. This came despite him batting at a strike rate of nearly 150 throughout the intent sparked debate. On commentary, former Australia opener Matthew Hayden remarked that Kohli needed to press on, especially with 200 considered a par score at the Narendra Modi Stadium. During the first strategic time-out, after the ninth over, cameras captured an animated exchange between Kohli, head coach Andy Flower, and batting coach Dinesh Karthik - both seemingly urging the batter to lift the scoring Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl. Both teams named unchanged XIs for the final - a sign of faith in their core line-ups. Kohli's dismissal halted RCB's momentum at a crucial stage. For Punjab, Omarzai's effort was not just a turning point but a spark in a final where every moment updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Tune In You May Also Like IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Daily Tribune
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
IPL returns to action with Punjab edging Rajasthan
AFP | Jaipur India Omarzai stars as IPL resumes with Punjab edging Rajasthan Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai marked the IPL's restart with a strong all-round display as Punjab Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs on Sunday, moving closer to a playoff berth. This was the first completed match since the tournament was paused due to the India-Pakistan conflict. Saturday's game was washed out, but conditions improved in Jaipur, where Punjab posted 219-5 after electing to bat. Nehal Wadhera top-scored with 70 off 37, supported by Shreyas Iyer (30) and an unbeaten 59 from Shashank Singh. Omarzai added a quick 21* off 9 balls, and later took two key wickets. Punjab had earlier slumped to 34-3, with debutant Mitch Owen out for a two-ball duck, but Wadhera and Shashank revived the innings with aggressive strokeplay in 42°C heat. In reply, Rajasthan started strong, reaching 89-1 in six overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed 50 off 25, and 14-year-old Suryavanshi Vaibhav Suryavanshi hit 40 off 15. However, spin halted their momentum as Harpreet Brar (3-22) removed both openers. Captain Sanju Samson (20) and Shimron Hetmyer (11) also fell, both to Omarzai. Dhruv Jurel fought back with a 31-ball 53, but was dismissed by Marco Jansen in the final over as Rajasthan finished on 209-7. Punjab now sit second in the 10-team table, tied on 17 points with leaders Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The IPL final, originally delayed due to the conflict, is now scheduled for June 3.
Observer
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
IPL returns to action with Punjab edging Rajasthan
JAIPUR, India: Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai marked the restart of the Indian Premier League with a fine all-round contribution as Punjab Kings closed in on a play-off spot with a 10-run win over Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. It was the first completed match since the resumption of the T20 tournament which had been paused because of an India-Pakistan conflict. Saturday's scheduled return ended in a washout with the game between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders abandoned without a ball being bowled. The weather was more clement in Jaipur as Punjab posted 219-5 when they elected to bat first in high-scoring match. Left-handed Nehal Wadhera top-scored with 70 off 37 balls before Shashank Singh made the team finish strong with his unbeaten 59. Omarzai boosted the total with his unbeaten nine-ball 21 before he returned with two key wickets to restrict Rajasthan to 209-7. Punjab are second in the 10-team table topped by Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Both teams are on 17 points in 12 matches. Impact substitute Harpreet Brar stood out with figures of 3-22 with his left-arm spin and South African left-arm quick Marco Jansen took two wickets in the final over when Rajasthan needed 22 for a win. Explosive opening knocks by Yashasvi Jaiswal and 14-year-old Suryavanshi Vaibhav Suryavanshi went in vain after the two left-handers fired Rajasthan to 89-1 in the first six overs. Jaiswal hit a 25-ball 50 and Suryavanshi made 40 off 15 balls. Suryavanshi, who hit an IPL century in 35 balls last month to shatter records, hammered the opposition bowlers for four fours and four sixes. Punjab introduced spin in the fifth over and Brar dismissed both openers in quick succession, Suryavanshi chipping a leading edge to mid-off and Jaiswal, just after he had passed 50, failing to clear Mitch Owen at long-off. The chase took another hit when skipper Sanju Samson fell for 20 off pace bowler Omarzai, who later removed the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer for 11. Dhruv Jurel made a valiant 53 off 31 deliveries but fell to Jansen in the final over as he failed to meet the increasing asking rate. Earlier Punjab's top three fell cheaply as Australian batsman Owen's IPL debut ended with a two-ball duck and Punjab slumped to 34-3. The mercury in the afternoon soared above 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit) when Wadhera steadied the innings and hit back with his attacking play as he put on 67 with skipper Shreyas Iyer, who made 30. Iyer fell but Wadhera kept up the charge with Shashank, who hit five fours and three sixes in his 30-ball knock. Wadhera departed in the 16th over but Shashank and Omarzai added 60 off 24 balls. Since the pause in the IPL, the tournament has been rescheduled with the final now set to take place on June 3. — AFP
France 24
18-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
IPL returns to action with Punjab edging Rajasthan
It was the first completed match since the resumption of the T20 tournament which had been paused because of an India-Pakistan conflict. Saturday's scheduled return ended in a washout with the game between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders abandoned without a ball being bowled. The weather was more clement in Jaipur as Punjab posted 219-5 when they elected to bat first in high-scoring match. Left-handed Nehal Wadhera top-scored with 70 off 37 balls before Shashank Singh made the team finish strong with his unbeaten 59. Omarzai boosted the total with his unbeaten nine-ball 21 before he returned with two key wickets to restrict Rajasthan to 209-7. Punjab are second in the 10-team table topped by Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Both teams are on 17 points in 12 matches. Impact substitute Harpreet Brar stood out with figures of 3-22 with his left-arm spin and South African left-arm quick Marco Jansen took two wickets in the final over when Rajasthan needed 22 for a win. Explosive opening knocks by Yashasvi Jaiswal and 14-year-old Suryavanshi Vaibhav Suryavanshi went in vain after the two left-handers fired Rajasthan to 89-1 in the first six overs. Jaiswal hit a 25-ball 50 and Suryavanshi made 40 off 15 balls. Suryavanshi, who hit an IPL century in 35 balls last month to shatter records, hammered the opposition bowlers for four fours and four sixes. Punjab introduced spin in the fifth over and Brar dismissed both openers in quick succession, Suryavanshi chipping a leading edge to mid-off and Jaiswal, just after he had passed 50, failing to clear Mitch Owen at long-off. The chase took another hit when skipper Sanju Samson fell for 20 off pace bowler Omarzai, who later removed the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer for 11. Dhruv Jurel made a valiant 53 off 31 deliveries but fell to Jansen in the final over as he failed to meet the increasing asking rate. Earlier Punjab's top three fell cheaply as Australian batsman Owen's IPL debut ended with a two-ball duck and Punjab slumped to 34-3. The mercury in the afternoon soared above 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit) when Wadhera steadied the innings and hit back with his attacking play as he put on 67 with skipper Shreyas Iyer, who made 30. Iyer fell but Wadhera kept up the charge with Shashank, who hit five fours and three sixes in his 30-ball knock. Wadhera departed in the 16th over but Shashank and Omarzai added 60 off 24 balls. Since the pause in the IPL, the tournament has been rescheduled with the final now set to take place on June 3.
Int'l Cricket Council
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Changing of the guard complete as Afghanistan star claims top ODI ranking
India's Axar Patel was the other big all-rounder rise, moving up 17 spots to 13th and registering a career-high 194 ratings points. Omarzai was also one of the key climbers in the latest ODI batter rankings, off the back of his 126 total runs in the Champions Trophy. He moved up 12 spots to 24th (598 rating points). Afghanistan's Champions Trophy campaign allowed a number of their stars to blossom, as Ibrahim Zadran also made a bold climb up the batting rankings. The 23-year-old smashed 177 runs against England in Lahore, moving up 13 spots into 10th (676 rating points). Australia's Steve Smith also collected a good dose of rating points, climbing six spots to 16th after his batting contributions at the Champions Trophy. Another high profile veteran, Kiwi Kane Williamson, also made a move, climbing eight spots to 29th. Men's ODI Batter Rankings India opener Shubman Gill remains in No.1 ranking for ODI batters, with teammate Virat Kohli moving up to fourth following his Player of the Match heroics against Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai.
