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India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
IPL final: Undoubtedly Virat Kohli's night, but RCB mates deserved more spotlight
On Tuesday night at Narendra Modi Stadium, the cameras found one man, and never looked away. The broadcasters told one story, and only it was a moment of profound personal triumph, the kind you might recall from Lionel Messi's long-awaited World Cup victory: years of struggle distilled into one heartfelt and deserved ending. Yet even then, the other side of the story was told. The raw emotion in the heartbroken French camp was captured. We saw Kylian Mbapp, who produced one of the greatest individual performances in a World Cup final, grieve openly. He was IPL 2025 final had all the makings of a classic: raw, unfiltered emotion; towering stakes; two teams, strangers to this stage, chasing a long-elusive crown as part of the infamous 'Holy Trinity'. Before a ball was bowled, we knew history would be made. One team would finally break free. The other would bear a fresh finally ended a trophy drought that haunted one of the IPL's most followed franchises, delivering long-awaited joy to a fiercely loyal fanbase. Punjab Kings, meanwhile, faced the bitter truth of a rare season of promise crumbling at the end — a Project Punjab they can still be proud when the dust settled, the broadcast reduced everything to a single frame, missing the full spectrum of emotions, the reckoning, and the honest faces after the it was Virat Kohli's night, perhaps more than anyone else's. The man who has been RCB's heartbeat through collapse and chaos. When tears welled before the last ball, we felt the weight of a long, bruising this was never just his only looked that gave three interviews, each over 15 minutes long. No complaints — his victory speech was worth the 18-year wait. But again, this was never only his Patidar, RCB's captain on the night, appeared briefly. Blink and you missed him. Shreyas Iyer, Punjab's captain, got a slightly longer slot. The rest of Punjab? Reduced to extras in a star-driven AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, iconic RCB alumni who flew in anticipating the end of a drought, got more screen time than the men who battled those four hours on the on you @StarSportsIndia kaiser (@rakshith_333) June 4, 2025Worse still, Shashank Singh, who played a valiant knock for Punjab, was seen only for a fleeting moment when the cameras panned to find their man in the group of players. We caught a glimpse of Ricky Ponting consoling an uncapped player, but not how Shreyas led his team through heartbreak after exceeding we saw was one side of the story, told by the man who deserved every bit of in the haze of victory, Kohli seemed to sense the stories left CALM: RAJAT PATIDARHe made it a point to speak of Rajat Patidar, a 32-year-old from Madhya Pradesh who stepped out of the shadows of giants and led RCB to glory in his very first season as IPL captain.'I can say that my journey has been an 18-year-long one, playing in the IPL. But it's important to understand that the other players too, most of them are around 30, 32, 33 years old, so it's not like they haven't faced struggles. They've struggled at different levels and risen above that. You already know Rajat's story,' Kohli said, recalling how Patidar came into the team as an injury replacement in 2021 before becoming a mainstay.'So, in the middle of all the emotions, we shouldn't forget that each individual here has had their own journey, has worked hard, and struggled a lot to reach here. Like take Mani Kaaka [team masseuse]. He has been with our team from the very first day, and also with the Indian team. He's been with NCA and here for 17 years. Basu Sir [Strength and Conditioning Coach] has also been here for 17 years. People often don't recognise that. Others have also faced a lot of struggles in life, and their family members worry for them just as much as mine do for me,' he delivered what the RCB greats — Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, even Kohli himself — couldn't. He had, of course, the support of a well-rounded MAN MANAGERSKohli tipped his hat to the team management: Director of Cricket Mo Bobat, head coach Andy Flower, and mentor Dinesh Karthik, for building a squad that was more balanced than ever seeds of that triumph were sown months earlier in the planning rooms. Behind-the-scenes footage showed Karthik and Bobat poring over whiteboards, passionately discussing picks in December. Targets were set, and then secured smartly.'This management, this group of players, has been outstanding, to be honest,' Kohli said.'They've got the right kind of players, match-winners, people who take the game on. In the auction, a lot of people questioned our tactics, but by day two, we were very happy with what we had, and we had a lot of confidence in the strength of this don't want to stand here and talk about myself. There's a lot spoken about me already. This win is for Bangalore and for each and every one of the players, the families, and the whole management as well.'WINNING AT THE AUCTION TABLE Kohli was right. RCB's approach at the mega auction felt... different. They passed on big-name superstars like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Instead, they bet on Rajat Patidar, who had led Madhya Pradesh to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final. He wasn't the flashy pick. He was the right than chasing headlines, RCB focused on fixing long-standing gaps. The jigsaw was almost complete. This auction was about finding the final splurged Rs 11.5 crore on Phil Salt to partner Kohli at the top, an attacking foil who cleared boundaries at will and allowed Kohli to build innings. Rs 11 crore went to Jitesh Sharma, who flourished as a finisher under Karthik's watch. With a strike rate nearing 200 under pressure, that fee now feels like a came Josh Hazlewood, 'HazleGod' by season's end, whose 22 wickets in 12 games turned matches. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was another inspired pick at Rs 10.75 crore. Dependable as ever, he spinner Krunal Pandya was reborn in RCB colours. Bought for just Rs 5.75 crore, he brought bite, calm, and a champion's edge. "I love winning trophies," he said, after becoming the first player in IPL history to win two Player of the Match awards in gave the bowlers their due.'The bowling group! The way we came back in games – I don't think in RCB's history we've ever done that consistently. If you ask me, this title was won by our bowlers.'A PUNCHLINE THAT DESERVED THE BIG SCREENAndy Flower, the quietly effective serial winner, added his latest trophy to a CV that already had success across England, Pakistan, UAE and Australia. Mo Bobat, in just his second season with RCB, delivered on the promise of change.'I am a bit disappointed that it's a year late. I also want to make it clear that we don't plan on stopping now. This is a new RCB. People have seen we have done some things differently. We have been brave with our decisions. We won't be waiting 18 years for the next one,' Bobat said. Not to a broadcaster. Not from a dais. But in the messy, emotional moments just after the final, caught on camera by RCB's own content creator, Mr. it was here, in the same video, that 'Basu Sir', RCB's long-serving strength coach, nearly broke down in tears: 'It's the most important trophy and my life is made. I can go to my grave peacefully.'We didn't see any of this on the official was a night of unforgettable moments. But many of them, moments of sweat, love, grief and triumph, were left was an opportunity missed. And Kohli seemingly knew it InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
India Today
28-05-2025
- 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
NDTV
26-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
"Is He Even Fit?": Debate Over MS Dhoni's Future Turns Into Heated Affair, Video Viral
As the Chennai Super Kings prepared for their final game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign against the Gujarat Titans, a debate over MS Dhoni 's future also erupted. In the pre-match show, former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina, Sanjay Bangar, RP Singh, and Aakash Chopra discussed whether it was time for the iconic wicket-keeper batter to hang up his boots. As RP and Raina stood 'against' the notion, Chopra and Bangar debated 'for'. The debate, however, turned into a heated affair, with some intense arguments being made from both sides. Dhoni looked a little reluctant to bat this year for CSK, coming out sometimes at even No. 8 position, promoting the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja over him. While Raina and RP suggested that the move was to give opportunities to others to flourish, Chopra and Bangar questioned Dhoni's fitness to even bat for that long. Here's a part of the debate: Aaksh Chopra: If MS Dhoni wasn't an uncapped Indian, would he have been a part of the CSK team this year? 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 problems are coming from the top order. Should such a big player bat higher up? Why the reluctance? Is he even fit or not? Things get a little heated in the studio during #TheBigDebate! What's your take on #CaptainCool 's batting position this season? Watch him #OneLastTime GTvCSK | SUN, 25th MAY, 2:30 PM on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 25, 2025 Suresh Raina: He feels he is more comfortable in the final four overs. He is fit, keeping wickets at the age of 44. He did an interview in the middle, saying a team for the World Cup (T20) is being made, hence he wants to give others like Shivam Dube more chances. RP Singh: After a knee surgery, he is bound to take time. Every player does. He has been keeping for 20 years, manages himself. Raina also had a knee operation done. He managed himself for some time and eventually recovered. 16 runs in 6 balls! Will #AakashChopra & #SanjayBangar back #MSDhoni as the ultimate finisher? Our experts debate: is it , as Thala leads CSK #OneLastTime! Join them for a fiery debate TODAY at 2:30 PM! #Race2Top2 GTvCSK | SUN,… — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 25, 2025 Further in the conversation, Bangar even stressed that Dhoni's presence in the team isn't allowing the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja to flourish as leaders.
NDTV
26-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
On MS Dhoni's IPL Future, Suresh Raina, Aakash Chopra Engage In Fiery Debate. Video Viral
As the Chennai Super Kings prepared for their final game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign against the Gujarat Titans, a debate over MS Dhoni 's future also erupted. In the pre-match show, former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina, Sanjay Bangar, RP Singh, and Aakash Chopra discussed whether it was time for the iconic wicket-keeper batter to hang up his boots. As RP and Raina stood 'against' the notion, Chopra and Bangar debated 'for'. The debate, however, turned into a heated affair, with some intense arguments being made from both sides. Dhoni looked a little reluctant to bat this year for CSK, coming out sometimes at even No. 8 position, promoting the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja over him. While Raina and RP suggested that the move was to give opportunities to others to flourish, Chopra and Bangar questioned Dhoni's fitness to even bat for that long. Here's a part of the debate: Aaksh Chopra: If MS Dhoni wasn't an uncapped Indian, would he have been a part of the CSK team this year? 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 problems are coming from the top order. Should such a big player bat higher up? Why the reluctance? Is he even fit or not? Things get a little heated in the studio during #TheBigDebate! What's your take on #CaptainCool 's batting position this season? Watch him #OneLastTime GTvCSK | SUN, 25th MAY, 2:30 PM on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 25, 2025 Suresh Raina: He feels he is more comfortable in the final four overs. He is fit, keeping wickets at the age of 44. He did an interview in the middle, saying a team for the World Cup (T20) is being made, hence he wants to give others like Shivam Dube more chances. RP Singh: After a knee surgery, he is bound to take time. Every player does. He has been keeping for 20 years, manages himself. Raina also had a knee operation done. He managed himself for some time and eventually recovered. 16 runs in 6 balls! Will #AakashChopra & #SanjayBangar back #MSDhoni as the ultimate finisher? Our experts debate: is it , as Thala leads CSK #OneLastTime! Join them for a fiery debate TODAY at 2:30 PM! #Race2Top2 GTvCSK | SUN,… — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 25, 2025 Further in the conversation, Bangar even stressed that Dhoni's presence in the team isn't allowing the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja to flourish as leaders.
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
'Robin Uthappa Wearing Mayanti Langer's Trousers?' Sunil Gavaskar Has Star Anchor In Splits, Reply Epic. Watch
Sunil Gavaskar is often unforgiving in his analysis. He is among those star cricketers who is not afraid to call a spade ' a spade'. The former Indian cricket team captain has a good sense of humour too. He is part of a famous meme where the colour of his trousers matches with the dress of famour sports anchor Mayanti Langer. Gavaskar re-visited the famous meme and gave fodder for another famous meme during an IPL match. Gavaskar was part of a discussion panel which has former India player Robin Uthappa and Mayanti. Then, Gavaskar made a hilarious observation. "I just want to ask, Robin, why is he wearing Mayanti's trousers?" Sunil Gavaskar asked. "I wanted to take the attention away from you," Uthappa replied. "I am supposed to be wearing the trousers," Gavaskar said. "Today, our stylist had the conversation. Not yours and mine. Screen shot this, Make this the meme now. But, brilliant observation Sunny ji!" Mayanti said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Star Sports India (@starsportsindia) Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar feels Shreyas Iyer didn't get enough credit for leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Despite leading KKR to their third IPL title, Shreyas was released by KKR ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, where he was picked up by the Punjab Kings (PBKS). KKR's success was largely attributed to mentor Gautam Gambhir, but Gavaskar feels it's the captain who deserves much of the credit instead of someone sitting in the dugout. Apart from his captaincy, Shreyas scored 351 runs from 14 innings at an average of 39 and with two fifties. "He didn't get the credit for the IPL victory last season. All the plaudits were given to someone else. It's the captain, who plays a major role in what's happening in the middle and not someone sitting in the dugout," Gavaskar said on Star Sports. This year, under Shreyas, PBKS are on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs. The team last finished in the top four back in 2014, eventually losing to KKR in the final. Gavaskar is glad to see Shreyas getting all the praise this season, instead of PBKS head coach Rickey Ponting. "See, this year he's getting fair credit. No one is giving all the credit to Ricky Ponting," he added.
