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Hindustan Times
33 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
'I told AB de Villiers 'I'm going to go. It's too much': Virat Kohli unburdens heart after finally 'crossing the line'
Aggression has long been the emotion most synonymous with Virat Kohli. The wild celebrations, fist pumps, chest-thumping, energetic high-fives, and euphoric roars — these are all trademarks of Kohli, and all were expected when Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally ended their 18-year wait with a maiden IPL title. But for the man who gave his entire career to one franchise, whose "heart and soul belong to Bengaluru", the moment overwhelmed him — he buried his face in his palms, eyes filled with tears. There was a hint of impatience on Kohli's face as he fielded near the boundary ropes, with each ball and the shifting equation only adding to the intensity. He could barely contain himself. Having waited his whole career for this moment — coming close thrice before, once as captain — the emotional burden was indescribable. Even his usual crowd-whipping gestures were missing. This was a Kohli flooded with emotion, on the verge of tears, as he signaled to his former RCB teammate AB de Villiers — waiting near the ropes, ready to celebrate — that he just wanted it to be over. "What was special was having him right at the boundary line in the last two overs. And I told him, I'm going to go, like it's too much to take. And then, when Hazlewood bowled that second ball, and it didn't go for six, they needed five sixes. I was gone. And I know how I've held back the tears for the last three balls of that innings. But they know how it feels," he told Star Sports in the presence of De Villiers and another former RCB players Chris Gayle. Kohli also reflected on the long struggle to win the title despite leading one of the most "explosive" line-ups alongside de Villiers and Chris Gayle. The 36-year-old said Tuesday's triumph against Punjab Kings felt far more meaningful because his old teammates were there to witness it. "Why it's so special to share it with these two is because I shared my prime years with them. We tried so hard to win this,' he said. 'We felt we were close a few times — we had such a strong team, that explosiveness — but we never crossed the line. All of us had that hurt because we gave our best years to this franchise. From the bottom of our hearts, we wanted to win this for RCB. 'And I promise you, this feels 10 times more special because these two are standing next to me. It's honestly as much theirs as it is mine.' Kohli praised the bond the trio shares with RCB fans, noting that de Villiers and Gayle remain beloved in Bengaluru. 'When they come to Bangalore, you see how much people love them. The crowd goes absolutely berserk — because they know and appreciate how much they gave for this team. They deserve it as much as I do,' Kohli said. 'I know people are emotional and may get carried away, but these two gave it everything. It's equally theirs.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Auction 2025 on May 31 and June 1: All you need to know
Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Auction 2025: The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is back with its 12th season, and excitement is already building up. One of the most awaited events before the tournament begins is the PKL 2025 player auction, which will take place on May 31 and June 1 in Mumbai. All 12 teams are ready to bid on their favourite players in this high-stakes event. Let's look at everything you need to know about the PKL auctions, from player categories to purse values and where to watch the live action. When and Where is the PKL Auction 2025? The PKL Season 12 auction will be held on May 31 and June 1, 2025, in Mumbai. The auction time is scheduled to begin from 7 PM onwards on both days. Fans can catch the action live on Star Sports and stream it online via Disney+ Hotstar. How Many Players Have Been Retained? Before the auctions, all teams announced their list of retained players. A total of 83 players have been retained, divided into: 25 Elite Retained Players (ERP) 23 Retained Young Players (RP) 35 Existing New Young Players (ENYP) With these retentions in place, 88 players are already confirmed for the season, leaving 212 open slots that will be filled during the auction. Over 500 Players to Go Under the Hammer This year's PKL auctions will feature more than 500 players, both Indian and international. Big names like Pawan Sehrawat, Maninder Singh, Pardeep Narwal, and Sachin Tanwar will be in the spotlight. International stars like Mohammadreza Chiyaneh Shadloui and Fazel Atrachali are also expected to draw heavy bids. Auction Categories and Base Prices All players in the PKL 2025 auction are divided into four categories based on their skills and base price. These include raiders, defenders, and all-rounders: Category A: Rs 30 lakh base price Category B: Rs 20 lakh base price Category C: Rs 13 lakh base price Category D: Rs 9 lakh base price These categories help teams plan their spending and choose the right mix of experienced stars and emerging talent. How Much Money Does Each Team Have? Each team has a total player purse of Rs 5 crore, which they can use to buy players during the auction. However, the actual amount left varies depending on how many players each team has already retained. Here is a breakdown of the remaining purse and squad size for each team: Each team is allowed to have a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 25 players, with 2 to 4 overseas players permitted per squad. Final Bid Match (FBM) Rule Explained Some players released before the auction might still return to their old teams using the Final Bid Match (FBM) rule. This allows franchises to match the highest bid made for a player they had released, thereby bringing them back into the squad. Meet the Coaches of PKL Season 12 The Pro Kabaddi League 2025 will also see a mix of familiar and fresh faces taking on coaching roles. Coaches play a key role in picking the right talent during the auction and guiding the team throughout the season. Where to Watch the PKL Auction Live? The PKL 2025 player auction will be televised live from 7 PM on Star Sports Network. Fans can also stream it live on Disney+ Hotstar to follow every bid and surprise pick. With top Indian and international players up for grabs and each team planning to build a balanced squad, the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 auction promises to be full of drama and surprises. Stay tuned for live updates, big buys, and team strategies as the PKL auctions kick off on May 31 and June 1. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
India Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Shubman Gill is one of best India has produced in all 3 formats: Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma heaped praise on India's new Test team captain Shubman Gill, calling him one of the best players produced by the country in all three formats of the game. Gill was appointed as the new captain for the Indian Test team, replacing Rohit Sharma in the role, ahead of the upcoming England tour. Gill became the fifth-youngest Test captain for India and 37th overall. Abhishek and Gill share a strong bond as they came up through the ranks in Punjab and were part of the U-19 team that won the World Cup in 2018. Speaking to Star Sports, Abhishek said that he was proud of the 25-year-old as he is set to become the new captain. advertisement'I think if I see his career you know if I remember the old days when we were just started playing for the U-14 and U-16 Punjab team. As youngsters, we all started with the red ball, from that time to now, it is a big achievement to become India's Test captain and I feel very proud of him,' said Abhishek in a video released by Star Sports. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Star Sports India (@starsportsindia)'Gill will play his role to perfection' Abhishek said he is confident that Gill will play his role to perfection and will do well for the Indian team and as a captain. 'Humne junior cricket saath dekha tha (We've watched and played junior cricket together.) He is one of the best players India has produced in all three formats, and wo acha isko nibhayega bhi (he will play his role to perfection). I believe he will do really well for Team India and as a captain as well,' added will now be aiming to lead Gujarat Titans to their second title in the IPL as they face Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator on May 30. Stay 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 InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
WATCH: Abhishek Sharma hails Shubman Gill as ‘one of best players India has produced in all three formats'
Former junior cricket and Punjab teammate Abhishek Sharma was all praise for his 'friend' Shubman Gill, who has recently been handed India captaincy in red-ball cricket after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Gill was named India's 37th Test captain while Rishabh Pant was assigned as his deputy, as the Indian team is set to tour England for a tough five-match Test series. Abhishek said he feels 'very proud' of Gill and called him 'one of the best players India has produced in all formats'. 'I think if I see his career you know if I remember the old days when we were just started playing for the U-14 and U-16 Punjab team. As youngsters, we all started with the red ball, from that time to now, it is a big achievement to become India's Test captain and I feel very proud of him,' said Abhishek in a video released by Star Sports. #AbhishekSharma recalls their early days and now beams with pride as his friend @ShubmanGill becomes India's red-ball captain. 🏏🙌 Catch his tribute to one of India's finest talents! ✨ Watch him next on 👉 #GTvMI | FRI, 30th MAY, 6 PM on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 28, 2025 'Humne junior cricket saath dekha tha… (We've watched and played junior cricket together.) He is one of the best players India has produced in all three formats, and wo acha isko nibhayega bhi (he will play his role to perfection). I believe he will do really well for Team India and as a captain as well,' added Abhishek. The flamboyant Abhishek and technically sound Gill have played together for Punjab in junior cricket before representing India in the U-19 World Cup, where the India Colts beat Australia in the final to win the title in 2020 under Rahul Dravid. Gill was India's highest run-getter in that tournament, where he averaged more than 100. In his 32-Test career, Gill has scored 1893 runs at an average of 35.05 with five hundreds and seven half-centuries. Out of the 32 Tests, the Punjab youngster has played 13 Tests overseas, accumulating 649 runs with an average of 29.50, with his only overseas hundred coming against Bangladesh.
News18
27-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
'Is He Even Fit?': Suresh Raina, Aakash Chopra Clash Over MS Dhoni's IPL Future
Last Updated: A discussion between two former India cricketers turned into an intense clash over the form and fitness of CSK legend MS Dhoni in IPL 2025. Aakash Chopra and Suresh Raina have contrasting views on MS Dhoni's IPL future. While Dhoni continues to maintain secrecy over his chances of playing in IPL 2026, the two former India cricketers, during a discussion, presented countering arguments on whether the ageing stalwart should retire. For Chopra, Dhoni 's reluctance to bat up the order throughout IPL 2025 raised doubts on his fitness while Raina said the legendary captain remains an integral part of Chennai Super Kings' big-hitting plans. During the debate on Star Sports, the two refused to see eye-to-eye after making their points, as Raina stood firmly behind his former India and CSK teammate and skipper. RP Singh, another former India cricketer and a close friend of Dhoni, also spoke in favour of the wicketkeeper-batter. Here is how the conversation panned out: Aakash Chopra: Suresh Raina: Absolutely, he has been with the team for 18 years. Even now, he hits the most sixes. Aakash Chopra: The point is, why is he batting at No. 7, No. 8 or No. 9? Your team isn't batting well, the top order has problems. Should such a big player bat higher up? Why the reluctance? Is he even fit or not? Suresh Raina: He feels he is more comfortable in the final four overs. He is fit, keeping wickets at the age of 43. He did an interview (last year), saying a team for the World Cup (T20) is being made, hence he wants to give others like Shivam Dube more chances (to make their cases). Meanwhile, Dhoni continued to bat low in the CSK batting order and wasn't needed against the Gujarat Titans on Sunday in what was the franchise's last match of the season. Soon after CSK secured a consolation win in Ahmedabad, Dhoni was asked if it was the final time he has been seen in the yellow jersey. The 43-year-old replied, 'I am not saying I am done, not saying I am coming back at the same time." First Published:
