Latest news with #SRH
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Rise and fall of SRH expectations
IPL is over. At least for SRH. Some other team will win. Probably Mumbai. Why? Because it's their app. They haven't won on their own app even once. And they also need a new headline after the Ambani wedding. So yeah… that's how I place my bets. Now, sports journalists will say SRH was inconsistent this year. I disagree. This was the most habitual a Hyderabadi team has ever been. This is how we play when we have absolutely no plans of winning a trophy. This season took me straight back to 2008 — great lineup, one huge score, a couple of centuries… and still comfortably chilling in the bottom half of the table. It's in our DNA. A tradition started by the Hyderabad Ranji team, officially launched by the Deccan Chargers, and now faithfully carried forward by SRH. And hey, we still finished sixth. Above KKR and Chennai. We found joy in other teams' suffering — a concept I recently learned a word for: Schadenfreude. (Thanks, Trevor Noah.) By the fourth match itself, we knew the pattern. So Hyderabad did what it does best — we moved on. JCBs went to work on the HCU campus. Students went to protest. We shifted focus from cheering overseas players to chasing Miss World contestants. Instead of making a fan poster of Nitish Reddy, someone made a funny portrait of Revanth Reddy. Priorities shifted.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Why RCB bowling unit is the hidden heroes despite having only 1 bowler in Top 10 IPL 2025 wicket takers list
Josh Hazlewood isn't the top wicket-taker in IPL; that's Noor Ahmed. But the Australian has stepped up in the last two games, and the reward is more than being in striking distance of the Purle Cap (Hazlewood on 21, Noor on 24) but needing 4 wickets in the final. But while that purple cap race heats up (Prasidh on 23, Boult on 19, Arshdeep 18, Bumrah, Sai Kishore on 17 who all could get a game extra), the Aussie is revelling in how the RCB bowling unit is getting the job done, especially putting in a perfect performance in the playoff against Punjab, and its much vaunted batting order. 'I guess, throughout the innings, which we saw tonight. So, we're in a pretty good place, I think, as a bowling unit,' Hazlewood said after sealing the final spot, after puncturing Punjab with his top spell. 'I think I probably just picked up on the momentum from the last game, I think a little bit,' he said in the post-match interaction. Hazlewood also lauded the quietly brilliant RCB bowling pack and how efficiently they have operated. They aren't in Top 10, Krunal and Bhuvi are at No 14 and 15 in table with 15 wickets apiece. But they are chipping away nicely. Quietly even. And Hazlewood says it's because they are versatile in their roles, and can switch duties seamlessly. 'I think any one of the five or six bowlers can bowl in any moment of the game, whether it be the start, middle or end,' he said, adding the Indian veteran was the silent assassin. 'I think it obviously helps having Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) with so much experience, quite a calm customer. So that sort of rubs off on the rest of the attack,' he said. 'But I think when it comes down to making decisions, you know, bowling changes, what delivery we're trying to bowl, we're very relaxed and calm,' he said of a composed unit, unaffected by batters with carnage on their mind. RCB in fact has been particularly effective against the highly rated explosive batting lineups – neutering both SRH and PBKS. 'I think as a unit we've worked really well. I think everyone knows their role, everyone is different. The combination is great, it's got some good variation, so everyone's got different strengths and it's just about using them at the right times, Hazlewood, who rocked Punjab with 3.1-0-21-3 said. 'It's just clear planning, obviously, first of all, and then clear execution and committing to that delivery you're trying to bowl. So just nice, clear mindsets. And yeah, we've been doing that nicely,' he added. Mullanpur also rolled out a wicket with some juice for bowlers. 'There was a little bit in the wicket, to be honest, there was a little bit of seam movement, the bounce was probably a little bit inconsistent. So we sort of utilised that as best we could,' said Hazlewood, who is 15th on best economy. One of the unlucky bowlers has been leg spinner Suyash Sharma, whose quality of spells does no justice to his wicket count. He has bowled 48 overs, has an unflattering average of 52.87 for 8 wickets, and is 29th on best economies and strike rate of 36. Suyash stepped up in the first Qualifier though. 'Suyash (leg-spinner) bowled really well in spells throughout the whole tournament, but has been a little bit unlucky on the wicket taking front, but obviously tonight got the rewards,' Hazlewood explained of the 8.81 economy bowler. Hazlewood has Shreyas Iyer as bunny claiming him 4 times in T20 at average of 2.75, and he pointed out to the obvious vulnerability. 'Probably from a batting point from Kings XI, they probably just had to pull back a little bit and try and get a score on the board, you know, 150, 160 would have been a difficult chase potentially,' the Australian pace ace mulled, of what he was up against after returning Fri an injury layoff of the shoulder.
India Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
RCB will win IPL 2025 and Virat Kohli will be Player of the Match: Shane Watson
Legendary Australia cricketer Shane Watson has backed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to win Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) and Virat Kohli to win Player of the Match. RCB finished the league stage of the tournament on second position with nine wins from 14 matches, having 19 points to their name. It was the first time that the Bengaluru-based franchise finished in top two after nine a result, they have a golden chance to win the tournament and end their 18-year drought of an IPL trophy. Shane Watson has also backed RCB to win the trophy and Virat Kohli to win the Player of the Match award in the final. He also mentioned how the return of Josh Hazlewood for the playoffs is a major boost for the side."The winner of IPL 2025, and I've been thinking long and hard about it, is RCB. And the Man of the Match for me is Virat Kohli, the great man. And here's the reason why. I just get a feeling that this is the time for RCB. They have had a few blips in the back end of the tournament, but with Josh Hazlewood coming back for the Playoffs, I get a feeling this is the year," Watson said in a video shared on his X really has been another incredible season of @IPL The playoffs are truly going to be epic!! Here are my predictions for who I think is going to win your predictions on Wolf777 now.#watson #wolf777 #wolf777exchange #cricket #ipl18 #playoffs Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) May 28, 2025advertisement Back in 2016, during the final of the IPL played between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Watson didn't have a memorable game. He first leaked 61 runs in four overs and later got dismissed for 11 (9) as RCB lost the match by eight runs. The Australian all-rounder has apologised to RCB fans time and again for his dismal show in the final which deprived them of their maiden title Hazlewood missed the last two games for RCB as he was nursing a shoulder issue and returned late from Australia. However, his return just ahead of the playoffs has provided a major boost for Bengaluru. The Rajat Patidar-led side will hope that the Australian seamer continues his rich form in the season and finally ends their title 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!
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India.com
3 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
Shubman Gill Matches KL Rahul, Enters Top 5 Captains With Most Runs In An IPL Season
photoDetails english 2907520 Updated:May 28, 2025, 09:17 PM IST Virat Kohli – 973 Runs (2016, Royal Challengers Bangalore) 1 / 10 In the 2016 IPL season, Virat Kohli delivered an extraordinary performance, amassing 973 runs in 16 matches at an average of 81.08. His tally included four centuries, setting a record for the most runs in a single IPL season. Virat Kohli's Aggression & Consistency 2 / 10 Kohli's leadership and batting prowess propelled RCB to the finals, although they narrowly missed clinching the title. This season, Virat is still consistent for his team, surpassing 600 runs and still going on. David Warner – 848 Runs (2016, Sunrisers Hyderabad) 3 / 10 David Warner's 2016 season was instrumental in Sunrisers Hyderabad's maiden IPL title win. Scoring 848 runs in 17 matches, Warner's aggressive batting at the top order provided consistent starts for his team. David Warner's Leadership 4 / 10 David Warner's leadership and form were pivotal in SRH's successful campaign, which helped his team clinch their maiden title, beating RCB at the finals of IPL 2016. Kane Williamson – 735 Runs (2018, Sunrisers Hyderabad) 5 / 10 Stepping in as captain in 2018, Kane Williamson led from the front, accumulating 735 runs in 17 matches at an average of 52.50. Kane Williamson's calmness 6 / 10 Williamson's calm demeanor and consistent performances guided SRH to the finals, earning him the Orange Cap for the season. KL Rahul – 670 Runs (2020, Kings XI Punjab) 7 / 10 In the 2020 IPL season, KL Rahul showcased his batting excellence by scoring 670 runs in 14 matches, securing the Orange Cap. KL Rahul's Temperament 8 / 10 KL Rahul's highest score of 132* was the highest individual score by an Indian in IPL history at that time. Despite his efforts, KXIP narrowly missed out on the playoffs. Shubman Gill – 649 Runs (2025, Gujarat Titans) 9 / 10 Assuming captaincy in 2024, Shubman Gill led the Gujarat Titans with distinction. In the 2025 season, he had scored 649 runs so far, demonstrating consistency and leadership. Shubman Gill - The New Captain 10 / 10 Gill's performance has been instrumental in the Gujarat Titans' impressive campaign this season. With the team securing a spot in the playoffs, they now face a crucial knockout clash against the Mumbai Indians. As captain, Gill will need to lead from the front once again and deliver another match-defining innings for his side.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
From Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Record Ton To Rishabh Pant's Struggles: IPL 2025's Highs And Lows Till Now
IPL's costliest-ever player Rishabh Pant at last delivered the goods with a ton in the final match but Lucknow Super Giants missed the bus. Axar Patel's Delhi Capitals nosedived from cruise control. Former winners Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders cut a sorry figure while Sunrisers Hyderabad misfired all the way through. In all, it took 67 days including a 10-day break, for the IPL to go through its preliminary round of 70 matches this year which witnessed some surreal highs and disappointing lows. Here's a recap so far before the playoffs begin: Young guns make a strong dent: RR's Vaibhav Suryavanshi was a 13-year-old when he was picked in the mega auction last December and at 14 in May, he became the youngest ever to score the fastest IPL ton for an Indian off 35 balls and second fastest ever, against Gujarat Titans. His finesse in stroke play and spunk at the biggest stage captivated the game's greats. While India T20I opener Abhishek Sharma was also among those who hit centuries, it also included Punjab Kings' uncapped Priyansh Arya, who took apart a lowly CSK with his maiden IPL ton. Prabhsimran Singh also showed he has got the goods while Ayush Mhatre gave CSK some reasons to smile. Daunting SRH misfire: Last year's runner-up SRH came in with one of the most intimidating batting line-ups but the all-out attack approach fell flat on its face. SRH began the IPL with the second highest total ever of 286/6 against RR and ended with the third highest, of 278/3 against KKR. In between, it looked like SRH never had a Plan B with the bat, Nitish Kumar Reddy largely disappointed and not having a quality spinner to bowl in the powerplay hurt them. CSK learn their lessons the hard way: Change is the only constant goes the old adage and CSK learnt it the hard way this year. The side was forced to part with its philosophy of keeping young talent on the bench and rely only on seasoned players such as MS Dhoni. At the top, the 17-year-old Mumbai batter Mhatre thrived against the odds while Proteas' Dewald Brevis dazzled towards the end. The 20-year-old Afghan Noor Ahmad emerged as CSK's most successful spinner with R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja being the other options. Sai Sudharsan comes of age: The young Southpaw showed that a no-risk approach with relentless attack at every opportunity can be a way to amass runs. he tops the charts right now with more than 670 runs and was deservingly rewarded with a national call-up for the Test tour of England. From being retired out for batting slowly in 2023 to being one of the best batters in 2025, Gujarat Titans' Sudharsan proved his time has come. Mumbai Indians do a Mumbai Indians: Four defeats in first five games marked yet another typical Mumbai Indians' start to an IPL, but Hardik Pandya's men came back roaring to win next six matches to establish themselves among the front-runners. Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma have blown hot and cold but Suryakumar Yadav showed why he is among the best in the business with remarkable consistency, while Jasprit Bumrah's 17 wickets in 10 matches must set alarm bells ringing in opposition camps. RR's forgettable season: From sweating on Sanju Samson's fitness and form to lack of gumption shown by others, RR endured a forgettable season to finish second last ahead of CSK. Parting ways with key players including Jos Buttler, Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Trent Boult disturbed their balance more than perhaps RR imagined. High-flying DC nosedive: The Capitals began this IPL looking like they won't put a foot wrong but when it came to being clinical and consistent, the fight petered out. DC began with five wins in first six matches and were perched at the top of the table, but a stunning nosedive saw them lose five out of the next eight. KKR misfire but Rahane stands tall: Rahane waged a lone battle of sorts but the season was also poor for the franchise's costliest player and vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer. With five defeats in first eight matches, it was all but over quite early for the defending champions who failed to play like one. Marsh, Pooran stand tall in LSG rabble: Five wins in first eight games -- built largely on the top-order's success -- gave LSG a chance to finish in the final four but there were more areas of concerns than bright spots. Pant's horror run with the bat, lack of depth in middle order and lack of variation in bowling saw them miss out on playoffs again but Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram gave them the substance amid Digvesh Rathi's theatrics. Punjab Kings' rise: Skipper Shreyas Iyer's performances in last one year or so have been screaming out loud that there is more to him than what is perceived and it was no surprise to see that he was the anchor of the perennial strugglers' remarkable turnaround. With a determined Iyer and hard-nosed head coach in Australian Ricky Ponting at the helm, there was little doubt that PBKS would be one of the teams to beat and performances like the one against KKR, to defend lowest-ever total (111), was only an example. Gill's Titans take flight: He has scored 400 runs at least since he joined Gujarat Titans three years ago but Gill not only continued to lead by example, but ensured his side remained ahead of the race despite a lop-sided batting and lack of form of one of their premier bowlers in Rashid Khan.
