Latest news with #RavichandranAshwin
India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
If RCB have to win the IPL, Mumbai Indians shouldn't enter the final: R Ashwin
Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin feels Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) mustn't face Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) final if they are to win the tournament. RCB qualified for the IPL final for the fourth time in their history after hammering Punjab Kings by eight wickets in the Qualifier 1 in comprehensive victory has taken them a step closer to winning their maiden IPL title as the Rajat Patidar-led side are eagerly waiting to cross the final hurdle. However, Ravichandran Ashwin has also backed RCB o win the tournament but feels that Mumbai Indians should get knocked out in the Eliminator fixture to further bolster their chances for the title RCB have to win the IPL, then Gujarat Titans should win against Mumbai Indians. MI are one team that you cannot allow to enter the final, you have to stop them at any cost,' Ashwin said on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat' Ashwin further said that MI mustn't be qualifying for the final as they're the only team that has some chance against RCB.'RCB will keep their fingers crossed to not have Mumbai Indians in the final. Mumbai Indians is the only team that has some chance against RCB. It looks like RCB are going the distance, but it is cricket; anything can happen. If I were RCB, my best finalist team would be Gujarat Titans. If I was RCB, I would want to face Gujarat Titans,' he have a great record while playing in the IPL final as they've won five out of the six times in the summit clash. On the other hand, RCB have lost all of the finals they've been a part of so far in their history. Having crushed Punjab in Qualifier 1, RCB will be eager to brush aside their past horrors and finally stake claim of the elusive IPL 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!
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"It Was Difficult...": Ravindra Jadeja Breaks Silence On Controversial CSK Captaincy Snub
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja finally broke silence on his mid-season removal as Chennai Super Kings skipper in IPL 2022. Three years ago, the all-rounder was appointed as the new leader of CSK after regular skipper and the legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni decided to step down. However, the decision backfired as CSK lost the first four games and were stuck at the bottom of the points table. After eight matches, the franchise sacked Jadeja from the captaincy and brought Dhoni back into the role but that also could not save them from getting knocked out of the playoffs race. After the season, there were many speculations regarding the rift between Jadeja and CSK and some reports even suggested that the all-rounder will be partying ways with the franchise in the upcoming season. However, all the speculations were put to rest after he played for CSK in 2023 and even guided them to their fifth title with his match-winning performance in the final against Gujarat Titans. Three years later, Jadeja appeared on a podcast of his CSK teammate Ravichandran Ashwin and opened up about the controversy. "It was difficult. In T20 cricket, every ball is an event. It is a fast game but for me it was an experience. I could have done better. As a captain, if you are team is not doing well then all the blame falls on the captaincy. Thinking, bowling changes, fielding chances. Unfortunately, the team was not doing well. If we were winning and everyone was contributing, then it was not rocket science," said Jadeja on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube Channel on his flagship show 'Kutti Stories With Ash.' "Sometimes, normal things work, but when your players, batters and bowlers don't contribute, you cannot win in the T20 format. I felt I could have done better, could I have done differently," he added. Jadeja further stated that during T20 matches, it is important for the captain to keep shuffling the batting order, in order to get the momentum right. "A few days I thought, but then I realised that when batsmen and bowlers don't contribute then everything looks negative. If you perform well, then everything looks well. This change worked. In the T20 format, batting order needs to be shuffled," said Jadeja. Listen to the latest songs, only on
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Gautam Gambhir indirectly blames Ajit Agarkar for Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from India Test squad for England tour
With Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma having retired from Test cricket after the tour of Australia, the Indian team is all set to enter the much-awaited transition phase with the start of the England tour in late June. Shubman Gill has been appointed captain as the selectors named the squad last week, with Rishabh Pant as his deputy. The team also saw Karun Nair return after nine years. One of the most notable omissions from the Test squad was Shreyas Iyer, who was rumoured to be a likely selection after Kohli's sudden retirement. Moreover, he had a decent Ranji Trophy to back his selection, having scored 480 runs in five matches last season, comprising two centuries, at 68.57. The most standout factor in that run was Iyer overcoming his vulnerability against the short ball, which was largely on display during the Champions Trophy earlier this year, where he emerged as India's leading run-getter and second in the competition. An exceptional run followed this in the ongoing IPL 2025, where he led the Punjab Kings to the top of the table in the league stage, as they now stand two wins away from winning their maiden title. Yet, Iyer failed to make the cut for the Test team. Speaking on the sidelines of an event, Gambhir was asked about Iyer's exclusion, but the India head coach did not seem interested in the question at all. "I am not a selector," was his terse reply, and he instantly chose to focus on a question around BCCI inviting the chiefs of the country's armed forces to attend the IPL final on June 3 in Ahmedabad. The BCCI chief selector had earlier addressed the query regarding Iyer not finding a place in the Indian Test team for the tour of England. Speaking to the media after the squad announcement in Mumbai last week, he had said: "Shreyas had a good one-day series, played well in domestic as well, but right now there is no room in Test cricket." The Mumbai batter last appeared in Test cricket in January 2024, before he was dropped from the squad midway through the home series against England. Few reports had, however, indicated that it was an injury concern that led to his release from the squad. This was followed by a fiasco around his unavailability for Mumbai's then-ongoing Ranji season, despite a mandate from the BCCI regarding domestic participation. Although he did make himself available during the final two matches, the board had already taken action against him and dropped him from the central contract.
National Post
6 days ago
- General
- National Post
Shubman Gill to captain new-look India on cricket tour of England
No Virat Kohli. No Rohit Sharma. No Ravichandran Ashwin. Article content Article content These three names featured prominently on India's starting Test lineup in recent years and often sent shivers down the opposition. Article content But the long arm of Father Time tapped them on the shoulder gently and reminded three of the country's greatest players that it's time to call it a day. England must be breathing a sigh of relief as this fearsome threesome will not grace the hallowed England grounds during India's demanding five-Test tour that starts in mid-June. Article content Article content All eyes now turn to the new-look India squad led by 25-year-old Shubman Gill, who was given the nod ahead of fast-bowler extraordinaire Jasprit Bumrah. In fact, the majority of fans around the world and pundits were certain Bumrah would succeed Sharma as captain, but the selectors rightly decided the pace man's fitness issues were a concern. Article content Article content 'We would rather have him as a bowler and hope he has a big series,' chief selector Ajit Agarkar said. 'He is an important player for us, so having him fit as a bowler is more important.' Article content Meanwhile, the 38-year-old Ashwin retired from the five-day version of the game a few months back having taken 537 Test wickets and turned his attention to club cricket. Sharma, of course, will be missed at the top of the order as he accumulated 4,301 runs with 12 centuries and 18 half centuries after making his Test debut in 2013. Article content The 36-year-old Kohli was urged by the hierarchy to hang on until after the England tour to give Gill all the assistance he would need as he embarks as a new skipper. Kohli was widely regarded as one of the most accomplished batsmen of his generation and a hero to millions of Indian fans. He played 123 Test matches since his debut in 2011, amassing 9,230 runs with an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. Article content Article content Although Gill lacks captaincy experience in Test cricket, he has led his country in a T20 game in Zimbabwe and captains Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. Gill has appeared in 32 Tests and scored 1,893 runs and that includes five centuries. Gill described his appointment as Test captain as a 'great honour' and 'big responsibility.' Article content Another superstar Gill will be without on the tour will be opening bowler Mohammad Shami, who played a pivotal role for India in recent years, but a spate of injuries has ruled him out again.
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First Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Fan tells Ashwin to leave CSK; former India legend's reply will melt the Yellow Army's hearts
Ravichandran Ashwin opened up about Chennai Super Kings' worst IPL season ever and responded emotionally to a fan asking him to leave the franchise. Despite a tough IPL 2025, Ashwin vowed to come back stronger for CSK. read more Ravichandran Ashwin may not have had the best season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025 , but the veteran spinner has made his love for the franchise clear. During a YouTube live session, Ashwin was asked by a fan to leave CSK because of their dismal performance this season, where they finished last in the points table. This is the worst-ever performance by CSK in their IPL history. When Ashwin conducted his usual YouTube show after their final league stage game of the season, a fan asked him to leave the franchise. But instead of ignoring the message, Ashwin gave a heartfelt reply that touched many fans. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The fan had commented: _"_Hi dear Ashwin, with lots of love, please leave my lovely CSK family." Ashwin, who took just 7 wickets in 9 games and scored only 33 runs this season, admitted that he didn't perform well enough but assured everyone that he is committed to coming back stronger. Ashwin's emotional reply to a disappointed fan 'One thing that I can relate to is his love for the franchise. Let's not make one mistake. When you say something, please make sure that you're doing it in your best interest. I understand what you're trying to say. I also have the same love and interest. Don't think that I'm going to let this campaign go to waste. What I have in my controllables. If you give the ball in my hand, I will bowl, if you give bat, then I will bat. I have put in a lot of hard work, and there are areas which I can work on, which I know very clearly. In the powerplay, I have given away many runs. To bowl in the powerplay, I have to create more options next year. This is the best I can do,' Ashwin said. 'I have the best interest of the team, and I love the team way more than all of you. I was with the team in 2009 and 2010. I have played for 7 years. I have qualified with CSK for the playoffs in the past. I have won the title. So, when I see a champion like this, I feel sad for the first time. I feel sad for that. That's why I'm sitting in a corner and crying. What to do next? This is my goal,' he added. Ashwin Responded to 'Leave my beautiful Franchise ' quote 🔗 — Prakash (@definitelynot05) May 27, 2025 This was Ashwin's first IPL season since retiring from international cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. It also marked his much-anticipated return to CSK, where he had hoped to make a strong impact.
