Axar Patel Appointed as Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2025

Axar Patel Named Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2025 Axar Patel has been appointed as the captain of Delhi Capitals (DC) for the IPL 2025 season. Having joined DC in 2019, Axar was the franchise's top retention at INR 16.50 crore ahead of last year's mega auction. Though his leadership experience is limited, he was named India's T20I vice-captain earlier this year. The 31-year-old has previously captained Gujarat in 23 matches across various domestic formats, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2024-25 season. He also led DC in one IPL match last year when Rishabh Pant was suspended due to a slow over-rate. Following Pant’s exit from the DC setup, Axar emerged as the team's most experienced player, having played 82 matches across six seasons. In the previous IPL season, he scored 235 runs at an average of nearly 30 and claimed 11 wickets with an economy rate of 7.65. Expressing his gratitude, Axar said, "It is my absolute honour to captain the Delhi Capitals, and I'm deeply grateful to our owners and support staff for placing their faith in me. I've grown as a cricketer and a human being during my time here, and I feel ready and confident to lead this side going forward." DC chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi emphasized Axar's journey within the franchise, stating, "Axar has been an integral part of the Capitals family since 2019 and embodies the values that this team is built on. This decision reflects the natural progression for him as a leader, and we have full confidence in his abilities." Co-owner Parth Jindal also praised Axar's growth, saying, "Having personally picked Axar in 2019, I have witnessed his evolution as a cricketer and leader. He is a much-loved figure in the dressing room and someone who will inspire his teammates." The DC squad for IPL 2025 features experienced international players like KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc. Axar himself comes into the season after contributing significantly to India's Champions Trophy triumph, taking five wickets with an economy rate of 4.35 and offering key contributions with the bat. Delhi Capitals, still chasing their first IPL title, finished sixth last season with a balanced win-loss record. This year, Axar will be working alongside a refreshed coaching setup, including Hemang Badani (head coach), Venugopal Rao (director of cricket), and Matthew Mott (assistant coach). DC will kick off their campaign against LSG in Visakhapatnam on March 24. With Axar's appointment, all five IPL teams that required a new captain post-auction have confirmed their leaders: Rajat Patidar (RCB), Ajinkya Rahane (KKR), Rishabh Pant (LSG), and Shreyas Iyer (PBKS).

Delhi Capitals Aim for First WPL Title, Hoping Third Time's the Charm

WPL 2025 Final: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals - Clash of Powerhouses Match Details: Fixture: Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Delhi Capitals (DC) Venue: Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai Date: March 15, 2025 What to Expect: Battle of Two Powerhouse Teams In a throwback to the 2023 final, MI and DC, two of the most consistent teams in the Women's Premier League (WPL), face off once again for the coveted title. DC have enjoyed a smooth run into the final, while MI took the tough route, playing three matches in four days to secure their spot. DC have been consistent in their team selection and performances. Captain Meg Lanning found form late in the tournament, Shafali Verma has been dominant at the top, and Jess Jonassen’s promotion to No. 3 has worked well. However, DC’s middle order (positions 4-7) remains a concern, averaging just 17.50 and striking at 116.66—the lowest figures among all teams this season. MI, on the other hand, boast a powerful line-up with Nat Sciver-Brunt in prime form, Hayley Matthews contributing with both bat and ball, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur hitting her stride. However, MI's middle order has shown inconsistency. The advantage for MI is playing at home, where they have won six out of seven games this season. Team News and Key Selection Decisions Mumbai Indians:MI experimented with Amelia Kerr as an opener while pushing Yastika Bhatia down the order. Though Yastika adapted well, Kerr struggled to convert starts. The Eliminator saw them revert to the original line-up, but the performance was underwhelming. It remains to be seen if MI will shuffle the order again. MI also swapped left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque for Parunika Sisodia in the Eliminator. However, Ishaque bowled only one over, raising questions about her inclusion for the final. Probable XI: Hayley Matthews, 2. Amelia Kerr, 3. Nat Sciver-Brunt, 4. Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5. Amanjot Kaur, 6. Yastika Bhatia (wk), 7. S Sajana, 8. G Kamalini, 9. Sanskriti Gupta, 10. Shabnim Ismail, 11. Saika Ishaque Delhi Capitals:DC have had a stable line-up and are unlikely to make changes after their last outing on March 7. Probable XI: Meg Lanning (capt), 2. Shafali Verma, 3. Jemimah Rodrigues, 4. Annabel Sutherland, 5. Marizanne Kapp, 6. Jess Jonassen, 7. Sarah Bryce (wk), 8. Niki Prasad, 9. Minnu Mani, 10. Shikha Pandey, 11. Titas Sadhu Key Players to Watch Jemimah Rodrigues (DC):Rodrigues has struggled this season, managing just one fifty and multiple single-digit scores. With the final in her hometown, she’ll be eager to make an impact. However, her fielding has been outstanding throughout the tournament. Hayley Matthews (MI):Matthews has been consistent with the ball, currently leading the wicket charts with 17 scalps at an average of 15.88. She rediscovered her batting form in the Eliminator and will be crucial in both departments for MI. Stats to Know Nat Sciver-Brunt is just three runs away from becoming the first player to reach 1000 WPL runs and seven runs shy of 500 runs in a single WPL season. Rodrigues, Jonassen, and Shikha Pandey will be playing their fifth franchise final together in two years. Meg Lanning has won every international title and claimed her first franchise title in 2024 with London Spirit. If DC win, the WBBL will be the only major title missing from her illustrious career. What’s at Stake? MI are looking to defend their home advantage, having lost only once at Brabourne this season. DC, having lost in the final twice before, will hope that the third time’s the charm as they chase their maiden WPL title. Will it be Meg Lanning lifting the trophy or Harmanpreet Kaur defending MI’s crown? All eyes are set for a thrilling finale!

Nitish Reddy fit to rejoin SRH squad following recovery from side strain

Nitish Kumar Reddy has been cleared by the BCCI's Centre of Excellence to participate in IPL 2025 after successfully recovering from a side strain suffered during the recent T20I series against England. He passed the mandatory yo-yo test with a score of 18.1, comfortably surpassing the required 16.5 mark. Nitish, who is a key figure in India's Test plans ahead of the upcoming England tour, is set to join the SRH squad at their pre-tournament camp starting Sunday. During IPL 2024, Nitish had an impressive batting performance, scoring 303 runs at a strike rate of 142.92, although his bowling was less effective. His international reputation was bolstered by a notable debut against Bangladesh in T20Is, followed by consistent performances in Australia's Border-Gavaskar Trophy, including his maiden Test century at Melbourne. Plans to work with former India bowling coach Bharat Arun were delayed due to his injury.

Kohli: Australia tour left me with the 'deepest sense of disappointment'

Kohli opens up on his struggles after Australia tour disappointment Virat Kohli has revealed that the recent tour of Australia left him deeply disappointed, comparing it to his difficult England tour in 2014. Despite starting well with a century in Perth, he repeatedly fell victim to deliveries outside off stump, managing only 190 runs at an average performance throughout the series. Reflecting on this, Kohli mentioned that the disappointment he experienced after the Australia tour was among the most intense of his career, even surpassing his struggles in England in 2014. He emphasized that the pressure of consistently high expectations can amplify feelings of frustration and desperation. However, Kohli also highlighted how he overcame these negative emotions by taking time off, spending moments with his family, and finding renewed motivation and clarity within days. He cited valuable advice from former coach Rahul Dravid, who suggested periodically checking in with oneself to find clarity amid challenging periods. Ultimately, Kohli confirmed his continued passion and love for cricket, reassuring fans that despite recent challenges, he has no immediate plans of retirement and remains motivated and excited to keep playing.

Pakistan stumble to 91 all out as new era without Babar-Rizwan starts poorly

New Zealand 149 for 1 (Seifert 66*, Allen 29*, Abrar 1-29) beat Pakistan 91 (Khushdil 32, Duffy 4-14, Jamieson 3-8) by nine wickets Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat as they were bowled out for just 91, their lowest-ever T20I total in New Zealand, handing the hosts an easy nine-wicket victory in Christchurch to take a 1-0 lead in the series. New Zealand's Jacob Duffy (4-14) and Kyle Jamieson (3-8) dismantled Pakistan's inexperienced batting lineup after the visitors chose a risky new approach, leaving out regular stars. The innings began disastrously, with Mohammad Haris and debutant Hasan Nawaz dismissed without scoring, reducing Pakistan to 0 for 2. Soon, the visitors collapsed further to 11 for 4, facing their lowest-ever T20I total in New Zealand. Khushdil Shah (32) and captain Salman Agha temporarily steadied Pakistan, utilizing some fortune to stitch together a recovery. However, both fell in quick succession, ending hopes of a substantial total. Chasing just 92, New Zealand cruised comfortably, powered by Tim Seifert's unbeaten 66 and Finn Allen's quickfire contribution. Despite Abrar Ahmed removing Seifert’s opening partner early, the chase never faltered. Allen and Seifert swiftly wrapped up victory with almost half the overs remaining. The crushing defeat marked Pakistan's lowest-ever T20 total in New Zealand, highlighting the risks associated with their experimental batting lineup.

DC's Batty backs his team, insists there's 'no mental block' despite another finals loss

It's rare to see Jemimah Rodrigues without her characteristic cheerful demeanor. Similarly, Alice Capsey and Shafali Verma are usually quick to share a laugh. Yet, as the Delhi Capitals trudged towards the presentation area after their latest defeat, the sense of disappointment was palpable. A few hundred loyal fans cheering for Rodrigues, Shafali, Shikha Pandey, and their teammates received only quiet acknowledgments, heads bowed in sadness. The players were visibly yearning for comfort, wishing someone could assure them it was all just a bad dream. DC had now faced their third consecutive defeat in a WPL final. Each season, they'd topped the league stage, directly entering the title match. While they lost the finals of WPL 2023 and 2024 by margins of seven and eight wickets respectively, their defeat this time was much narrower, falling short by only eight runs. Despite the narrow loss, head coach Jonathan Batty managed to bring his characteristic humor into the press conference. Asked about a common factor in their three final defeats, he joked, "The opposition got more runs than we did!" In previous seasons, despite talents like Jasia Akhter and Laura Harris, DC struggled to effectively finish their innings, lacking impactful batting in the lower order. Wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia, batting at number 11 in the 2024 final, had batted only five times in 18 matches across two seasons. However, this season saw an improvement with Scotland wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce joining the squad, allowing DC to field five overseas players. Bryce, typically a top-order batter, managed an impressive strike rate of 150 batting at number seven, indicating a successful attempt to address previous weaknesses. This made the loss particularly bitter for DC, having identified their previous shortcomings, rectified them, yet still ending in the same place. Their squad depth was such that Indian internationals Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav played just four and two games respectively this season. However, Batty refrained from overanalyzing, acknowledging that Mumbai Indians simply performed better on the crucial day. "The players were up for it, mentally fine, and I believe there was no mental block at all. Full credit to Mumbai Indians; they outplayed us and deserved the victory," Batty emphasized. "We need time to fully understand what went wrong," Batty said. "Two top-quality teams were in a tight battle. Losing by just eight runs—essentially two boundaries—means the game could have swung either way. There's no common pattern; unfortunately, we've just ended up on the losing side three times in a row." "Finishing top of the table three consecutive years shows we've played fantastic cricket, but ultimately you have to win the final to cross the finish line. Everyone's deeply hurt right now. You'd usually back yourself to chase 150 on this pitch nine times out of ten. Maybe the occasion slightly overwhelmed the players," he added. Previously, DC had opted to set targets in finals but failed to post competitive totals. Hence, Meg Lanning chose to chase this year. In WPL 2025, teams batting first had won all matches at the Brabourne Stadium before the final, but that didn't influence Lanning’s decision. Yet again, DC's batting struggled in the title clash. Their top order succumbed under Mumbai's early pressure, slipping to scores of 17 for 2, 44 for 4, 66 for 5, and eventually 83 for 6. Marizanne Kapp's spirited 40 off 26 balls revived their hopes temporarily, but Mumbai's disciplined bowling restricted DC to only 14 runs in the final two overs, securing their second WPL trophy. "There's definitely no mental block," Batty reiterated. "We bowled and fielded exceptionally to restrict them to 149. Considering recent matches, 180 was likely par, so we were happy with that effort. But full credit to Mumbai Indians, who kept us below the run rate consistently." Batty praised his team's bowling, especially Kapp’s opening spell. Mumbai's Harmanpreet Kaur delivered a crucial partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt, turning the game decisively in Mumbai's favor. Despite a strong bowling display, DC’s inability to hold firm under pressure cost them again. Ultimately, DC found themselves agonizingly close yet again. Batty’s humor provided only temporary solace in a moment marked by another heartbreaking defeat.

NSW in deep trouble against Tasmania in crucial Sheffield Shield clash

Tasmania 81 for 1 & 186 lead New South Wales 186 (Dwarshuis 40*, Moody 4-41, Siddle 3-10) by 226 runs Beau Webster, Riley Meredith, and Jake Weatherald have put significant pressure on New South Wales (NSW), severely impacting their Sheffield Shield final aspirations and handing Tasmania firm control at Bellerive Oval. Midway through their pink-ball match, Tasmania reached 81 for 1 in their second innings, holding a commanding lead of 226 runs. NSW must secure a victory in this final round clash against bottom-placed Tasmania to surpass Queensland and claim a spot in the final against South Australia. The visitors faced considerable challenges, particularly in the middle session, as Beau Webster (3-43) and Riley Meredith (3-43) tore through the NSW batting line-up, triggering a collapse that saw them bundled out for 186. Meredith's fiery spell of fast bowling, combined with Webster's consistent accuracy, left NSW struggling. Jordan Silk, playing his 100th Sheffield Shield match, thrilled the home fans with a solid innings of 112 off 208 deliveries, featuring 12 boundaries, before being dismissed by Ben Dwarshuis (4-41). Despite useful contributions from Sean Abbott (30), Josh Philippe (25), and Kurtis Patterson (25), NSW's innings lacked stability as they quickly slipped to 134 for 8. Dwarshuis’ aggressive 40 from 31 balls (including six fours and two sixes) late in the innings ensured Tasmania would bat again on Sunday. Weatherald (batting 56*) and opener Tim Ward (11*) guided Tasmania safely to stumps, leaving NSW facing an uphill battle to keep their final hopes alive.  

PCB issues legal notice to Corbin Bosch over delayed switch to IPL

Corbin Bosch has been served a legal notice by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for allegedly breaching contractual obligations after the South African allrounder signed with Mumbai Indians for IPL 2025, subsequently withdrawing from PSL 2025. This season marks the first time the PSL will overlap with the IPL, with the IPL running from March 22 to May 25, and the PSL from April 11 to May 18. Bosch was picked by Peshawar Zalmi in the diamond category during the PSL draft held in January. However, on March 8, Mumbai Indians announced that Bosch would be replacing the injured Lizaad Williams. The situation has caused concern among PSL franchises, fearing it could set a precedent for players committing to the PSL but later switching to the IPL. There have even been informal discussions regarding potential bans on such players. A PCB statement clarified: "The legal notice was served through his agent, and the player has been asked to justify his withdrawal from his professional and contractual commitments. The PCB has also highlighted the repercussions of his departure and expects a response within the stipulated timeframe. No further comments will be made on the matter." The statement did not specify the exact timeframe for Bosch's response. The PCB had strategically moved the PSL window to improve the availability of overseas players. Previously, the February-March PSL window conflicted with leagues like the SA20, ILT20, and BPL. Last year, discussions were held about conducting the PSL draft after the IPL auction for greater clarity on player availability. Consequently, the IPL auction took place in November 2024, followed by the PSL draft in January 2025. The PSL draft managed to attract several high-profile players, including David Warner, Daryl Mitchell, Jason Holder, Rassie van der Dussen, and Kane Williamson.  

Chetan Sakariya steps in for injured Umran Malik at KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed left-arm seamer Chetan Sakariya as a replacement for the injured Umran Malik, who has been ruled out of IPL 2025. Malik, 25, has not played any competitive cricket since IPL 2024, where he featured in just one match for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sakariya, also returning from injury, last played a competitive game during the Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra in February 2024. Malik, known for his express pace and ability to clock speeds over 150kph, burst onto the scene in 2021 but has since struggled with injuries and illness. He was initially set to feature in the Duleep Trophy at the start of the 2024-25 domestic season but had to withdraw due to dengue. Unfortunately, a subsequent hip fracture sidelined him further. To date, Malik has played eight T20Is, taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.48. Sakariya, on the other hand, has featured in two T20Is, claiming one wicket at an economy rate of 9.27. Sakariya is likely to provide backup for Spencer Johnson, KKR's primary left-arm fast bowler. Malik's absence leaves KKR without a like-for-like Indian replacement for Anrich Nortje, who is also known for his injury concerns. KKR head into the 2025 season as defending champions, having defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2024 final.