After retaining their core players, Kolkata Knight Riders made smart choices in the IPL 2025 mega auction, strategically filling gaps in their squad. The franchise splurged on young all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer and made some quality value buys, while also securing a like-for-like replacement for Mitchell Starc. With a strong team in place, KKR is well-positioned for another successful season under a new captain.
A heartwarming video of New Zealand cricketers Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra went viral on social media after Santner's impressive run-out of Indian batsman Rishabh Pant in the second Test at Pune. While Santner was responsible for taking 13 wickets in the game, Ravindra's display of affection towards the all-rounder added to the celebratory mood. The Black Caps are now in a dominant position with a 359-run target for India, who are on the verge of losing two consecutive home Tests.
After scoring a disappointing 150 runs in their first innings, the Indian team bounced back on day one of the first test against Australia. Led by Mohammed Siraj's brilliant bowling, India managed to restrict Australia to just 67/7 at the end of the day, giving them a lead of 83 runs. Siraj, who also recently made headlines for his appointment as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Telangana, removed top batsmen like Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh to put India in a favorable position.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction kicked off in Saudi Arabia with a bang, as cricketers like Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Arshdeep Singh were sold at record-breaking prices. Rishabh Pant was picked up by Lucknow SuperGiants for a whopping price of ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. Other notable sales include England's Jos Buttler to Gujarat Titans for ₹15.50 crore and Australia's Mitchell Starc to Delhi Capitals for ₹11.75 crore. With a total of 577 players up for auction and different budgets for each team, it will be an interesting event to follow.
The highly anticipated IPL mega auction for 2025 is set to begin on November 24 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With 577 players in the running and 201 slots to be filled across the franchises, fans can expect a thrilling bidding war for some of the biggest names in cricket including Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Jos Buttler, Kagiso Rabada, and Mitchell Starc. 12 top players have been split into two groups and will be the first to go under the hammer, followed by the remaining capped and uncapped players. The live telecast will be available on Star Sports with streaming on Jio Cinema. Mark your calendars for March 14, 2025, as the next IPL season begins.
In his Test debut against Australia, Yashasvi Jaiswal showed commendable strength and confidence as he held his own against fast bowler Mitchell Starc. Despite being dismissed for a duck in the first innings, Jaiswal came back stronger in the second innings, helping India establish a lead with a half-century and a century partnership with KL Rahul. With his sights set on becoming the future of Indian Test cricket, Jaiswal is proving that he can perform under pressure on the international stage.
Despite the fierce competition between the two nations, the camaraderie between Indian debutant Harshit Rana and Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc during the Perth Test was a heartwarming moment. Starc's friendly jibe to Rana about his bowling speed brought a smile to the latter's face, highlighting the bond they formed while playing together for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. While Starc played a crucial role in KKR's title win with his impressive spells, Rana contributed to the team's success with 19 wickets. Their friendly banter on the field shows the growing camaraderie between players from different countries, breaking traditional rivalries.
With a blazing performance on Day 2, Indian cricket team's captain Jasprit Bumrah led the dismantling of Australia in the first innings of their test match. The fifth Indian player to take a five-wicket haul as a captain, Bumrah dominated the lower-order, including star batter Alex Carey, who was expected to revive his team's chances. A resilient stand between Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood helped Australia avoid a complete collapse, but it couldn't stop Bumrah from securing a lead and victory for India.
India's captain, Virat Kohli, takes the reins in a fiery team huddle only 45 minutes before the second day of play. While Australia puts up a tough fight on the final day, the efforts of Jasprit Bumrah, who secures five-wicket haul, and Harshit Rana, who produces a nasty lifter, lead India to a victory with a 46-run lead. And, to top it off, Bumrah's delivery proves too much for Aussie batsman Mitchell Starc to handle, creating a potential viral-X moment on the field.
In a dramatic first day of the Test match between India and Australia in Perth, India took control of the game by bowling out the hosts for just 67 runs. Jasprit Bumrah was the star of the day, taking four crucial wickets in the final session to put India in a strong position. Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey managed to salvage some hope for Australia, but with the dominant bowling performance by India, the hosts are facing an uphill battle. This match also raised questions about Virat Kohli's form, as the star batsman failed to produce a high-score once again.