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Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IPL 2025 final, RCB vs PBKS: A new champion will be crowned today
Both Punjab and Bengaluru will be first-time champions if they win the final on Tuesday (Image via X/@IPL) Ahmedabad : Some narratives run larger than the sport itself. For years, debate raged on whether Lionel Messi would be able to win a World Cup. Would the talented duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown lift the NBA trophy? Would Rory McIlroy be able to complete the career Grand Slam? As it turned out, they all had it in them to win the ultimate prize in their sport. Messi went on to win the World Cup in 2022, Tatum and Brown guided the Boston Celtics to a record-setting 18th NBA championship in 2024 while McIlroy won the Masters to earn a career Grand Slam this year. A similar narrative is taking shape here ahead of the IPL final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). RCB's white-ball colossus Virat Kohli has a 50- over World Cup win, two Champions Trophy titles and one T20I World Cup triumph to his name. But the missing cup in the cabinet is the Indian Premier League ( IPL ) trophy. RCB have reached the final thrice before this but come up short on all three occasions. Will Kohli be fourth-time lucky or will a Shreyas Iyer-inspired PBKS walk away with their maiden title? Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Kohli and Phil Salt have been the ideal combination for RCB at the top, though the PBKS newball pair of Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson will pose a stern test. Mayank Agarwal has been steady at No. 3 and is followed by captain Rajat Patidar. The skipper has been aggressive from the word go. His ability to take on spinners will be key against leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. The trio of Liam Livingstone, wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma and allrounder Romario Shepherd provide the fireworks down the order. The overs delivered by PBKS medium pacers Vijaykumar Vyshak, Azmatullah Omarzai and Marcus Stoinis will prove to be decisive. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Concentrated Siberian Ginseng Extract 2oz Superior Ginseng Undo Tim David's injury is a question mark. IPL 2025 Final, RCB vs Punjab Kings: The wait will finally end in Ahmedabad Man to man, PBKS have a team to match RCB. Uncapped openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have been fearless in their approach at the top while Australian Josh Inglis provides the impetus at No. 3. Iyer is the glue that binds the team. His calmness will be crucial to this team. Australia's premier pacer Josh Hazlewood, along with pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal, will look to test the PBKS top order. Poll Will Virat Kohli finally lift the IPL trophy this year? Yes, it's his time to shine! No, Shreyas Iyer will claim it Southpaw Nehal Wadhera in the middle order will be key to counter left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya and leg spinner Suyash Sharma. Lower-order batters Omarzai, Stoinis and Shashank Singh lend heft in the batting at the end overs. Who's that IPL player? All in all, this looks like a contest in which the team that holds their nerve better will lift the trophy for the very first time.
The South African
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Ranked: Biggest big hitters in Proteas history
Although the Proteas have never won the T20I World Cup, South Africa has produced some of the biggest-hitting batsmen of all time. T20 cricket, which was introduced 20 years ago, has often divided fan opinions over the years. This short format of the game, consisting of 20 overs, primarily favours batsmen, allowing powerful hitters to shine and establish their reputations worldwide. While players like JP Duminy have found success in T20 cricket, the retired all-rounder does not rank among South Africa's top big hitters. Here are five of the biggest hitters the country has seen over the past 30 years: AB de Villiers Known as 'Mr. 360', de Villiers was a joy to watch. At his peak between 2011 and 2018, he was a nightmare for bowlers around the world, capable of hitting any top bowler out of the park. He excelled not only in T20 cricket but also captivated fans in ODI and Test formats. Lance Klusener Nicknamed 'The Zulu,' Klusener was renowned for his aggressive batting style and effective bowling. He had a talent for taking wickets at crucial moments. Although he played in 171 One Day Internationals and 49 Test matches, he is most remembered for his outstanding performance in the 1999 World Cup, where he nearly led the Proteas to the final. Albie Morkel The retired all-rounder was famous for his ability to hit sixes. Although he did not participate regularly for the Proteas, he made a significant impact in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Morkel won two IPL titles with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and was regarded as one of the league's top players. Herschelle Gibbs By the time T20 cricket gained international popularity, Gibbs was nearing retirement. The former Proteas opener would have thrived in the T20 format for at least another decade. He was thrilling to watch, and on his best days, he could produce stunning performances. In 2007, he made history by hitting six consecutive sixes in an over against the Netherlands during a World Cup match. David Miller It's hard to believe that David Miller will be turning 36 in a few weeks. He has shown no signs of decline and could continue playing for another four years. His ability to hit big shots has often helped the Proteas secure victories, making him a valuable asset to South African cricket. Like Albie Morkel, Miller has been one of the most consistent South African players in the IPL, where he won one title. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Won't be easy for Virat-Rohit to play only ODIs: Kumble
Mumbai: To many Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's decision to extend their ODI careers, the only format they will continue to play international cricket is a curious one. Earlier this month, within days of each other, Kohli and Sharma ended their Test career. Last year, both the senior batters had retired from T20I cricket after helping India lift the 2024 World Cup. 'They are both great players. But it will not be easy to do what they need to do, which is to just play ODIs which are five months down the line. No matter who you are and how well you have played in your careers,' Anil Kumble, former India captain said in a fireside chat to mark Australia's summer of 2024-25 on Monday. Part of the reason experts are skeptical about sticking only to ODI cricket is how spaced out the bilateral ODI calendar is. The Indian team is scheduled to play three ODIs in Bangladesh in August, three in Australia in October and three at home against South Africa in December. Besides, the entire focus in the white-ball calendar, next year will be on the T20I World Cup in India. The next ODI World Cup in Africa is more than two years away. 'Ideally, they would like to play the 2027 World Cup. We saw Australia winning the 2023 World Cup against India. But it will be difficult. It will not be easy; where you are preparing only for ODIs because there are not too many ODI matches.' Kumble added. Recently, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir was non-committal when asked about Kohli-Sharma's ambition to play the next ODI cricket. 'Shubman will look to create his legacy' Kohli and Sharma's Test retirement saw 190 Test match experience taken away from the Indian team sheet in the upcoming series against England. Kumble expressed confidence that selectors' leap of faith in the young Shubman Gill as captain will pay off. 'Captaining India will be different from captaining for franchise or in state cricket. It comes with its own responsibility and pressure. But I am sure Shubman is capable,' the former captain said. 'And transitions are bound to happen. Without the three pillars of Indian cricket over a long period of time – Kohli, Sharma and R Ashwin, it will be difficult for us as fans, not to see those three names. But it's something the dressing room will get used to over a period of time. It is a start for a young team in a new cycle and the current team will will look to hold the trophy. Shubman will look to create that kind of legacy,' he added.
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Bangladesh to tour Pakistan for 5-match T20I series in May instead of 3 after schedule tweak
In preparation for the upcoming ICC Men's T20I World Cup in May 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a five-game T20I series against Bangladesh. The five games, scheduled over the space of 9 days, will commence on May 25th and conclude on June 3rd. The series is part of the Future Tour Programme (FTP). While the FTP originally comprised of thee ODIs and three T20Is. However, in light of the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, both the Bangladesh and Pakistan Cricket Boards have agreed to swap the 3 ODIs for two T20I games. The five games are set to played in two venues, at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The first two games will be played in Faisalabad, where a total of 16 ODIs and 24 Test matches have been played in the 30 years between 1978 and 2008. The first and second matches are scheduled for the 25th and 27th of May respectively. More recently, Iqbal Stadium has hosted the National T20 Cup in March and the inaugural Champions One-Day Cup in September 2024. The venue welcomes back International cricket after a long 17-year absence. The last International game played at the venue was between the two sides set to play each other in a month's time, in April 2008. The other three games will all be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where the first game there is scheduled for the 30th of May, followed by games on the 1st and 3rd of June. As per the Pakistan Cricket Board's official website, all fice games are scheduled to commence at 8 PM. The Bangladesh Cricket team is set to arrive on the 21st of May and will start training sessions at Gaddafi Stadium from 22nd to 24th of May.
Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
SA not to stumble at last hurdle: Dussen
Star batter Rassie van der Dussen says PSL experience will help South African players in today's semi-final against New Zealand. PHOTO: AFP The South African cricket teams, be it men or women outfits, are notorious for choking at the last hurdle when it comes to global events. However, Proteas' star batter Rassie van der Dussen believes it's not a matter that bothers the current set of players. Asked by Telecom Asia Sport ( if the players talk about how not to choke at the last hurdle, a notorious trait linked with South African cricket, Dussen replied: "Yes, there has been a lot of talk, especially by other people so that we will see. It's great to be in the semi-final and it shows the consistency in our performance." Since their readmission to international cricket in 1991, South Africa have lost the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup in Australia due to a foolish rain rule that asked them to score 22 off the final delivery. They then went down in the 1999 World Cup semi-final after a silly mix-up between Alan Donald and Lance Klusener. And no one can forget the blooper by the team management that asked Mark Boucher to defend a delivery rather than score a run to go out of the 2003 World Cup at home. They also lost the 2007 and 2023 semi-finals before losing the 2024 T20I World Cup final to India in Barbados. The South African women's team is not far behind in choking. They lost to Australia in the 2023 T20I World Cup final and suffered the same fate in last year's T20I World Cup against New Zealand in Dubai. However, Dussen believes the current South African men's team is confident of crossing the final hurdle. "We have not spoken about this, we believe that we are here to win the tournament," said Dussen. If South Africa beat New Zealand in the semi-final in Lahore they are likely to face India in the final in Dubai. Dussen, who scored a brilliant 72 not out in the team's chase of a modest 180-run target against England, believed putting pressure will be the key. "If we do play against India, then we know they will be accustomed to the conditions in Dubai having been there for a few weeks, so the challenge for us is to acclimatize with the conditions as soon as possible so we can put them under pressure," said Dussen in response to a question by Telecom Asia Sport ( "I don't think it matters if the conditions are different in Pakistan if we play New Zealand in Lahore and the final in Dubai. There is a little bit of spin so there has to be some technical adjustments made." "I think a few players coming here before the Champions Trophy is important," said Dussen of South Africa playing a tri-series ahead of the Trophy matches. "I have played in the Pakistan Super League PSL a few times so we know the conditions. The bounce is skiddier and lower so we have discussed the game plan and strategies. Not as much bounce as in South Africa so technical adjustment." "Results are not in your control so as a team we continue to try and do the right things. We have hard-working individuals and that translates into results and match-winning performances."
