Latest news with #SyedMushtaqAliTrophy
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
RCB win IPL 2025: Rajat Patidar, the soft-spoken man of steel, who leads RCB to their first ever title
Rajat Patidar shakes his head in amusement when probed about a tactical move he cherishes from the IPL, in a show with RCB Bold Diaries. 'Aise kuch nahin,' he says, trying to shake off the question, before he fishes out favourite moment. 'It was during the second league game against Punjab Kings. Prabhsimran Singh was taking the fast bowlers apart when I thought of bringing a spinner. He was hitting in a flow, and off-pace could disrupt it,' he explained his reasoning. He introduced left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya who immediately got the wicket. The incident offered a peep into Patidar's thought stream. His plans are not grand or elaborate, but simple, practical and designed on the move. 'Half of the work (strategising) is done by our experienced support staff, I just have to take care of the on-field issues,' he says with a self-deprecatory smile that suggests that the weight of the role is not crushing him. And on Tuesday, he led RCB to the promised land, delivering the franchise's first ever IPL trophy. The man on the camera, sitting relaxed on a blazing bindi-red couch is the man of the field too. He has the gift of being visible yet invisible at the same is laid back, yet serious, he is not chatty, but his words are measured and meaningful. On the field, he blends into his teammates, is not camera-conscious, rather escapes the camera without even the cameras realising it, is not ultra expressive, but has expressive eyes but an undemonstrative face. He is not the most vocal person of the field, there is a chorus of experienced hands for making the noise. He largely lets the bowlers choose their field, but conveys his opinions when he feels he has to. He rarely vents out his rage or angst. Even in the most anxious moment he keeps his poise, a trait that has won him praise from coaches and pundits. 'There's a calmness and a simplicity to Rajat,' extolls head coach Andy Flower. Staying grounded is the trait that pleased Dinesh Karthik, RCB's mentor and batting coach. 'He has been the biggest eye-opener for me in life,' Karthik said on the second episode of RCB's Journey to the Finale. 'Because when people suddenly get a little bit of adulation, power, they tend to change… But with Rajat Patidar — what a guy. He has been exactly the same that he was before becoming the captain.' Making him captain was not a desperate or whimsical decision. Flower and Co had watched his style of captaincy in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and detected ample traits in him to lead one of the most popular franchises in the league. 'We really liked what we saw. He's inherently a quiet guy, but observing him, he cares about the people around him. He cares about the people that he plays with, that he shares a dressing room with. And I think that's a quality that means that he will instantly have respect and care from other people, and that, as a leader, those qualities are important in that people will follow you and get behind you. At the same time there is stubbornness and steeliness about him.' The coaches that had moulded him swear on the qualities too. His childhood coach Ram Atre's mind rewinds to the chilly winter mornings of Indore when Patidar would have readied the pitch before the coaches arrived. 'We don't have curators or groundsmen to make the pitch. Usually, the task fell on the freshers to keep the pitch ready before the practice session. But Rajat would do it even after he became a senior player of the club. He was a popular guy, friendly and always talking with a smile on his face. The junior players would flock to him for advice and he would patiently explain to them whatever they had asked for,' he remembers. He had a fierce winning mentality but never pours his anger on his teammates even if they end up on the losing side. 'Of course, he tells them where they have gone wrong, but never puts the blame on others. Rather, he will think deeply about where he has erred and work on it until he gets it corrected. He had the drive from the moment he joined the club. He was six or seven at that time.' he says, before rattling out another anecdote. He points to a six-year old kid who has come to attend the summer camp. 'Rajat was shorter than him and when he first came here, he could not even clear the infield (which is roughly the size of a backyard) of the Dusshera Maidan ground. But he was patient, trained hard and in four-five weeks' time started clearing it with ease,' he narrates. His journey from being snubbed by RCB to captaining them to the final itself is a testament to his patience and a heart of granite. In the mega auction of 2022, the franchise did not retain him. He was disappointed, but he immediately hit the ground running to play local club cricket. 'Each time he suffered a setback, he would make a comeback with double the energy. He wouldn't show his frustration on the ground or during practice, but work quietly, far from everyone's gaze,' says the coach. But as destiny had it, he was recalled towards the end of the season as an injury replacement. He was in two minds as he was certain that he would mostly bench-warm and his wedding was fixed too. In the end, the love for the game won, he postponed the wedding, rejoined RCB and latched onto the break with an unbeaten 112 against Lucknow Super Giants in the eliminator. An ankle injury kept him out of the next season, but RCB retained him, and two years later, he guided them to the final after nine years. When RCB management sounded him about his new role last year, he didn't get overwhelmed but told them that he had captained Madhya Pradesh much, so would go and captain them first before assuming charge of RCB. His heart pounded the first time he walked out for the toss, he told RCB Bold Diaries. 'A lot of questions were passing through my head. Like what I would do with the toss, what if I lose it, about the questions they would ask me. But at the same time I was clear on what I had to do,' he admitted. Two months later, the once-ignored, soft-spoken captain, fulfilled the long unfulfilled dream of RCB with a dream-like narrative of his own.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shreyas Iyer, Rajat Patidar trade subtle barbs with each other during toss; RCB vs PBKS IPL final off to cracking start
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Rajat Patidar traded subtle barbs with each other during the toss ahead of the all-important Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Shreyas, who is fresh off an unbeaten 87-run knock in Qualifier 2, won the toss and opted to bowl first in the summit clash. The entire crowd in Ahmedabad is heavily tilted towards RCB, and it is because of just one man—Virat Kohli. If PBKS are to win their maiden title, they have to silence a crowd of more than 1.3 lakh. Both the captains, Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar, tried to be a little cocky during the toss, exuding confidence ahead of the battle royale. Also Read: RCB vs PBKS Live Score, IPL 2025 Final: Shreyas Iyer elects to bowl While speaking with broadcaster Ravi Shastri during the toss, Shreyas Iyer said it is not another game as the pressure of a final is immense. On the other hand, Patidar said his team is taking the challenge of facing Punjab Kings as 'just another game.' During the toss, Shreyas Iyer said, 'It's a big occasion, it's a final, and we're going to play like a final.' On the other hand, Rajat Patidar played down the occasion of playing in the final, saying, 'I think we've played good cricket, and it's just another game for us. So we'll try to give our best and play good cricket. Sometimes when there is pressure, it gets the best out of you.' This is the second time in a matter of months that Patidar and Shreyas are squaring off in the final of a T20 competition. The two had faced each other during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final between Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai. Shreyas' team had come out on top back then. Shreyas Iyer is the toast of the town following his 87-run knock in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad. Ahead of the final, the 30-year-old said that he is only sending positive signals to his mind and is trying his best to remain calm. "I want to give only positive signs to my mind and my body. I feel that it's an amazing day. It's all here at the moment. The crowd is electrifying. All we have to do is come here and cherish," said Shreyas. "The team is in brilliant shape and mindset, I feel. And I've said that in a lot of interviews I've given before. I think that today is another occasion where we come out in numbers and see to it that we embrace it rather than trying to be someone else," he added. Shreyas also stated that it would be a tremendous feeling if Punjab Kings go on to defeat RCB to lift their maiden IPL title. 'It's going to be a tremendous feeling just to think about lifting the trophy. I've already envisioned it. It's all in the mind right now to go out and execute to the best of our abilities,' said Shreyas. Both PBKS and RCB are going unchanged for the IPL 2025 final.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Sunil Gavaskar brushes away talks of Shreyas Iyer as India captain: ‘…first need to look at Shubman Gill'
Shreyas Iyer's astonishing run as captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL) of different franchises has led to an increasing chorus of voices questioning why he has never been considered as a skipper for the Indian team itself. Shubman Gill is India's new Test captain after Rohit Sharma retired from the format in May but in the days since, Iyer has led the Punjab Kings to their first final in 11 years, leading to questions over how he was never considered. Former captain and batting great Sunil Gavaskar has however stated that any talks of Iyer as captain should be only after Gill has been given a fair run. 'Regardless of whether is worthy of being the captain or not, we first need to look at Shubman Gill, who is the Test captain. We need to give him opportunities. If we talk about such things, then we are creating undue pressure on Shubman Gill,' Gavaskar said on Sports Tak. 'There is no need to create pressure on Shubman Gill before the England tour. You first need to realise that Shreyas Iyer is not even in the Indian team. There should be no talk about him being made the next Indian captain,' he added. Iyer was a notable absentee in the Indian squad for the five-Test tour of England later this month. The last of his 14 Test appearances came in February 2024. He was dropped from BCCI's list of centrally contracted players that month but after that, Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their first IPL title since 2014. He then played a crucial role in India's run to the 2025 Champions Trophy title and before that, Iyer led Mumbai to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. KKR incredibly chose to not retain Iyer and he ended up being signed by PBKS for INR 26.75 crore, momentarily becoming the most expensive in the history of the IPL auction before LSG broke the record just minutes later to acquire Rishabh Pant. Unlike Pant, though, Iyer has arguably had his best IPL season ever with the bat while leading PBKS to the final, scoring 603 runs and maintaining a strike rate of 175.80 in 16 matches going into the final. Gavaskar said that while Iyer's candidacy for India captaincy can be considered if and when he makes a comeback into the Indian Test team, Gill needs to be shown 'tremendous confidence'. Gill starts his tenure with the rather unenviable task of leading India in five Test matches in England. 'When he makes a return to the side then you can have a look at whether he can be made the captain or not. We need to show tremendous confidence in Shubman Gill, who has just been made the Test captain. He is our India captain,' said Gavaskar. You shouldn't create doubts in his mind, there should be no pressure on him. You shouldn't create pressure, saying, 'Oh look, there is Shreyas Iyer',' said Gavaskar.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
IPL 2025: Is Shreyas Iyer PBKS's missing key to first-ever IPL glory?
For 18 seasons now, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have wandered in search of their maiden IPL title. Despite strong player investments and tactical experiments, the silverware has eluded them. In 2025, though, that story may finally take a turn, and much of that change can be credited to Shreyas Iyer. Appointed captain at the start of the season, Iyer has brought structure, belief, and a high-performance mindset to the franchise. Those within the team management say his calm presence and clear communication have been game-changers. PBKS's run to the final has been their most clinical yet , and with Iyer steering the ship, the elusive crown could finally come to the PBKS dugout. The captain who breaks patterns and creates history Shreyas Iyer has etched his name into IPL history by becoming the first captain to lead three different franchises to the final — Delhi Capitals (2020), Kolkata Knight Riders (2024), and now Punjab Kings (2025). What makes this achievement even more unique is his consecutive final appearances with two different teams, a feat that only the greats of the tournament have touched. Close observers suggest that Iyer's emotional control and deep tactical awareness are major reasons why teams respond so well to his leadership. PBKS insiders point out how he has unlocked performances from players like Nehal Wadhera and Priyansh Arya, while also fostering a winning culture. Leadership that transcends the IPL arena Iyer's impact isn't limited to the IPL. Since 2023, he has either led or played crucial roles in finals across every major format — ODI World Cup 2023, Ranji Trophy 2023–24, Irani Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024–25, and the 2025 Champions Trophy. In each of those, he either finished champion or runner-up. His winning mentality, according to former India team-mates, brings a sense of stability and ambition to every dressing room he walks into. A rivalry rekindled from the domestic stage The final of IPL 2025 will also serve as a continuation of a compelling captaincy rivalry. Earlier, in the 2024–25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, Iyer's Mumbai defeated Rajat Patidar's Madhya Pradesh. Now, the same two skippers face off again — this time, on a far bigger stage. While Patidar aims to prove himself after a shaky season, Iyer stands on the brink of being the first to win IPL titles with two different teams. The numbers back him too Statistically, Iyer has been nothing short of elite. With 50 wins in 86 matches and a win rate of 59.5 per cent, he ranks highest among IPL captains with 50 or more games — edging even names like Dhoni and Rohit in terms of efficiency. If PBKS lift the trophy, it will cement Iyer's place among the greatest T20 leaders of his generation — and possibly the man who finally ended Punjab's wait for an IPL trophy.
News18
a day ago
- Business
- News18
'Would Love To See Virat Kohli In BBL...': Cricket Australia CEO Makes Big Statement
Last Updated: Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has expressed desire for Indian players, including Virat Kohli, to join the Big Bash League. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has said that while the board keeps conversing with BCCI to let their male players participate in the Big Bash League, probably the second or third-largest T20 league in the world, adding that he would love to see ace India batter Virat Kohli play in the league. There has been a longstanding debate on the BCCI's decision not to allow its male players to take part in overseas T20 leagues, while the rule is different for the female cricketers. The likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues have consistently played the WBBL over the years. 'We would love to welcome some Indian players to the BBL. That's certainly some conversations that we will continue to have with the BCCI I would love to see Virat Kohli playing in the BBL this year," Greenberg said while speaking to the media during an interaction organised by Cricket Australia. 'That would certainly create some interest in crowds and ratings, I'm sure, but at the moment, that's not happening, but we do have our ambitions to do those types of things," Greenberg added. BCCI restricts Indian players from taking part in other leagues to protect the integrity of its domestic cricket, the IPL especially. BCCI prioritises the Indian Premier League, a lucrative tournament and fears that permitting cricketers to take part in other leagues could diminish its value. BCCI wants to ensure that domestic cricket, including the Ranji Trophy, remains strong as a feeder system for international players as well. The schedules of many international T20 leagues often conflict with India's domestic season, making it tough for cricketers to take part in both. The Big Bash League presumably begins from the third week of December, towards the end of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's premier domestic T20 tournament. Six to seven days after this event, the Vijay Hazare Trophy also begins. BCCI wants to protect cricketers from over-exposure, as playing in several leagues can lead to fatigue.
