undefined https://www.cricketwinner.com undefined Fri, 09 May 2025 08:39:13 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html https://github.com/jpmonette/feed en Copyright © 2024 Cricket Winner. All Rights Reserved. <![CDATA[T20 Mumbai League 2025 auction: List of players sold, top bids and full team news]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/t20-mumbai-league-2025-auction-list-of-players-sold-top-bids-and-full-team-news/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/t20-mumbai-league-2025-auction-list-of-players-sold-top-bids-and-full-team-news/ Wed, 07 May 2025 13:09:54 GMT

As the T20 Mumbai League 2025 Auction played out amidst intense bidding and drama, the anticipation of one of Mumbai's most prestigious domestic cricket events was palpable. The franchises were aggressive in their pursuit to acquire the best cricketing talents in Mumbai; therefore, many of the young, emerging stars cost a pretty penny.

Auction Highlights and Top Bids

The auction was a testament to the wealth of Mumbai cricket talent, with franchises competing to acquire both proven names and young prospects. The day's biggest acquisition was Atharva Ankolekar, who went for ₹16.25 lakh to Eagle Thane Strikers, a confirmation of his increasing reputation as an all-rounder with utility value. Hot on his heels were Musheer Khan and Sairaj Patil, both signed up for ₹15 lakh by ARCS Andheri and Eagle Thane Strikers, respectively, underlining the value placed on young, dynamic players.

The other big purchases were Ayush Mhatre (₹14.75 lakh, Triumph Knights Mumbai North East), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (₹14 lakh, SoBo Mumbai Falcons), and Shams Mulani (₹14 lakh, Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs), all of whom have already caused ripples in domestic and IPL circuits. The bidding duels highlighted the franchises' intention to mix experience with youth to build competitive teams.

Also Read: Shocking Update: Will IPL 2025 be cancelled due to Operation Sindhoor?

Team-wise Player Breakdown

Triumph Knights Mumbai Northeast

  • Icon Player: Suryakumar Yadav (₹20 lakh)
  • Top Buys: Ayush Mhatre (₹14.75 lakh), Suryansh Shedge (₹13.75 lakh)
  • Other Notables: Sidhaant Aadhhathrao (₹7.75 lakh), Parikshit Valsangkar (₹7.25 lakh), Jay Jain (₹4 lakh)

Bandra Blasters

  • Icon Player: Ajinkya Rahane (₹20 lakh)
  • Top Buys: Suved Parkar (₹8.50 lakh), Akash Anand (₹8.25 lakh)
  • Other Picks: Royston Dias, Karsh Kothari, Dhanit Raut

North Mumbai Panthers

  • Icon Player: Prithvi Shaw (₹20 lakh)
  • Top Buys: Mohit Avasthi (₹10.50 lakh), Tanush Kotian (₹10 lakh)
  • Talented Additions: Divyansh Saxena, Khizar Dafedar, Harshal Jadhav

SoBo Mumbai Falcons

  • Icon Player: Shreyas Iyer (₹20 lakh)
  • Top Buys: Angkrish Raghuvanshi (₹14 lakh), Siddharth Raut (₹7 lakh)
  • Supporting Cast: Vinayak Bhoir, Harsh Aghav, Kush Kariya

ARCS Andheri

  • Icon Player: Shivam Dube (₹20 lakh)
  • Top Buys: Musheer Khan (₹15 lakh), Prasad Pawar (₹13 lakh)
  • Other Signings: Himanshu Singh, Akhil Herwadkar, Siddid Tiwari

Eagle Thane Strikers

  • Icon Player: Shardul Thakur (₹20 lakh)
  • Top Buys: Atharva Ankolekar (₹16.25 lakh), Sairaj Patil (₹15 lakh)
  • Emerging Talents: Shashank Attarde, Harsh Tanna, Varun Lavande

Also Read: IPL 2025: PBKS vs DC Match 58 - A Head to Head breakdown

Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs

  • Icon Player: Sarfaraz Khan (₹20 lakh)
  • Top Buys: Shams Mulani (₹14 lakh), Jay Bista (₹12 lakh)
  • Strong Lineup: Hardik Tamore, Ayaz Ahmed, Siddharth Akre

Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals

  • Icon Player: Tushar Deshpande (₹20 lakh)
  • Top Buys: Siddhesh Lad (₹10.25 lakh), Aditya Dhumal (₹7.25 lakh)
  • Promising Selections: Sachin Yadav, Khan Awais Naushad, Rohan Ghag

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<![CDATA[T20 Mumbai League 2025 Auction set to ignite – Click to Know More!]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/t20-mumbai-league-2025-auction-set-to-ignite-click-to-know-more/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/t20-mumbai-league-2025-auction-set-to-ignite-click-to-know-more/ Tue, 06 May 2025 11:59:14 GMT

The highly anticipated T20 Mumbai League 2025 auction is all set to kick off tomorrow, May 7, at 10 AM IST in Mumbai. This will signal the start of the third season of the league after a gap of six years. Eight franchises will be participating in the tournament, playing at the iconic Wankhede Stadium between May 26 and June 8.

Around 280 players are to be sold, some of whom are newer names such as 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre, who struck a 94-run score in IPL 2025 for Chennai Super Kings, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who's made 285 runs for the Kolkata Knight Riders this season.
Some other established names are Tanush Kotian and Musheer Khan, reflecting the league's emphasis on promoting both talent and experience.

Auction Format and Player Categories

The auction pool consists of three categories:

  • Senior Players: players with experience in first-class, List A, or T20 matches with base price set at ₹5 lakh. 
  • Emerging Players: cricketers who have represented Mumbai at the U-23 or U-19 level within the last three years with a base price of ₹3 lakh.
  • Development Players: promising local and club players, beginning at a base price of ₹2 lakh. 

Each franchise needs to build a squad of no less than 18 players that must include at least 4 senior players, at least 5 emerging players, and at least 5 development players. 

Also Read: T20 Mumbai 2025: Ayush Mhatre and Angkrish Raghuvanshi set to feature in player auction

Icon players are already signed at a fixed price of ₹20 lakh and will be the team's captains. This means we will have familiar names such as Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, and Tushar Deshpande. The Mumbai Cricket Association has obligated all players from Mumbai Indians who are eligible to participate in the auction to play in the T20 Mumbai League, where they will get an additional ₹15 lakh appearance fee in addition to what they earn in the auction. 

The T20 Mumbai League 2025 auction is a must-watch if you enjoy a mixture of established players and emerging players to see the league head in the right direction for the right reasons—an exciting season!

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<![CDATA[T20 Mumbai League 2025: Icon players revealed for Third season]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/t20-mumbai-league-2025-icon-players-revealed-for-third-season/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/t20-mumbai-league-2025-icon-players-revealed-for-third-season/ Fri, 02 May 2025 15:16:27 GMT

The T20 Mumbai League 2025 is coming to Wankhede Stadium from May 26 to June 8, and fans are ready for two weeks of exciting T20 cricket. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced the icon players for each of the eight teams on May 2, during a draw ceremony in the Wankhede Stadium lounge, featuring a great collection of Indian international players that has already established the anticipation for what is sure to be a third edition blockbuster.

Here’s the list of icon players assigned to each franchise:

  • Suryakumar Yadav – Triumph Knights Mumbai North East 
  • Shreyas Iyer – SoBo Mumbai Falcons
  • Shivam Dube – ARCS Andheri
  • Ajinkya Rahane – Namo Bandra Blasters
  • Shardul Thakur – Eagle Thane Strikers
  • Sarfaraz Khan – Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs
  • Prithvi Shaw – North Mumbai Panthers
  • Tushar Deshpande – Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals

Also Read: T20 Mumbai League 2025: Squads, Captain and Everything you need to know

Icons to Lead and Inspire

By giving each team an icon player, the MCA has made its intentions clear in how it is trying to create the right mix of experience for young players. Each of the marquee players has played for India, and each brings with them leadership capabilities, mentorship, and competitiveness to their respective teams. This in itself should help the development of young talent in the league and raise the overall standard of the event.

With the icon players announced, the main auction is set for May 7, 2025, and the anticipation is already building as the teams get set to build the players around the icons. The drafting is done, and the journey now moves forward to developing balanced teams, with tactics and combinations to follow.

With Wankhede Stadium as the epicenter of the tournament, the T20 Mumbai League 2025 promises to deliver 14 days of gripping cricket, fueling the spirit and memory of Mumbai cricket. With the countdown on until the start of the tournament, anticipation is building for the opportunity to watch cricketing heroes lead from the front, mentor the youth, and make memories at Mumbai's very own T20 carnival.

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<![CDATA[IPL 2025: 3 players who can replace Injured Ajinkya Rahane]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ipl-2025-3-players-who-can-replace-injured-ajinkya-rahane/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ipl-2025-3-players-who-can-replace-injured-ajinkya-rahane/ Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:29:43 GMT

Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) win over Delhi Capitals could be more delightful if their skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, did not get himself injured. Sunil Narine did the captaincy job after Rahane's departure from the field.

The defending champion franchise is already in an uncomfortable situation, near the IPL 2025 exit door, and now has to think about their captain's injury. Kolkata Knight Riders next will face Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens on May 4. Ajinkya Rahane's availability for the match is not yet sure.

KKR spinner Anukul Roy has informed us that the experienced batter has gotten a few stitches in his hand. KKR fans are speculating, if Rahane is not able to play, then who can be the right fit on the playing XI?

Read More: IPL 2025 Qualification Scenarios: Can your team still make it to 16 Points?

Rahane's injury can be a major crisis for the team if his injury is found to be more than minor. He not only provides his experience but also a pivotal part in the middle to balance the batting lineup. Rahane's absence can force KKR team management to change the approach and tactics on the field. 

3 possible replacements for an injured Ajinkya Rahane:

  • Moeen Ali: If the team management wants someone who can hold a side of the wicket, then Moeen Ali can be the right choice, the all-rounder who has scored over a thousand runs in IPL and bagged 38 wickets. In the ongoing IPL 2025, he has yet to showcase his batting talent but took 3 wickets in 4 matches. 
  • Manish Pandey: In terms of experience, Manish Pandey is another candidate in the squad who can replace Rahane. The flamboyant right-hand top-order batter can add some important runs for a handsome total on the scoreboard. So far, in the ongoing IPL 2025, he has played only one match, where he scored only 19 runs. Last season he played only one match and got a useful 42-run knock for KKR. 
  • Ramandeep Singh: An unexpected poor IPL 2025 outing so far for Ramandeep Singh after he got retained by Kolkata Knight Riders. He played an important role behind KKR's trophy win, but this year, he's completely out of form. But still, KKR management can rely on his talent, especially in terms of limited overs cricket. He can be useful in middle and lower-middle-order batting positions. 
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<![CDATA[5 Kolkata Knight Riders players who earlier played for Delhi franchise]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/5-kolkata-knight-riders-players-who-earlier-played-for-delhi-franchise/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/5-kolkata-knight-riders-players-who-earlier-played-for-delhi-franchise/ Tue, 29 Apr 2025 19:46:59 GMT

Kolkata Knight Riders will face Delhi Capitals in the 48th match of IPL 2025 in Delhi on Tuesday, April 29. Currently, DC has a perfect season, and for KKR it is a must to win the match as they are still surviving in the playoffs race and are currently in the 7th position of the TATA IPL 2025 points table. Here in this article, we will talk about the names of the 5 players who played for DC before and are now playing for KKR. Check out the article to know more.

Chetan Sakariya

Chetan Sakariya is a Saurashtra seamer who played for DC for two seasons, 2022 and 2023. Currently, Sakariya is playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders. The 27-year-old seamer first came into the spotlight when Rajasthan Royals picked him up ahead of IPL 2021, but things changed, and after joining DC, he didn’t get much success. Sakariya played only five matches across the two seasons for the JSW-owned franchise and picked up a total of six wickets. 

After joining KKR, things seem not to have changed as the left-arm pacer has played only one match this season, where he gave 39 runs in just three overs against Punjab Kings on 26th April. 

Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey is an International Indian Cricketer who is primarily a batter, has been with KKR over the last two seasons, and lastly played for DC in the 2023 IPL season. Manish Pandey, who is the first Indian to score a century in IPL, is also the best player when it comes to fielding. 

For DC, he struggled a lot as he battled in nine innings out of 10 matches, scoring a total of 160 runs that season. After the 2023 season, the former Karnataka captain was let go by both DC and KKR, with whom Pandey played from 2014 to 2017, and the same team picked him up again and gave him a chance to showcase his skills. Manish Pandey has scored 3,869 runs so far in his IPL career.

Quinton De Kock

South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has played for six teams so far in the IPL, with DC one of them. De Kock played for DC for three seasons from 2014 to 2016, when the team was called the Delhi Daredevils; later it was named Delhi Capitals.

In 2016, De Kock hammered 445 runs in 13 innings for Delhi at an average of 37.08 and a strike rate of 136.08. The very next season, de Kock was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he averaged a very small amount above 25. Now playing for KKR this season, the wicketkeeper batter has hit the ball at 137 in just seven matches.

See Also: Top 3 reasons why Delhi Capitals Lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025 Match 48

Anrich Nortje

South African Pacer Anrich Nortje is one of the biggest names of players in the IPL who has played both for DC and KKR. The express fast bowler was once a part of the DC team till 2024. After that, KKR picked him up in the mega auction held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2024. In his IPL career, Nortje has played 46 IPL matches wearing the DC jersey. For DC, Nortje picked up 60 wickets in total. His best IPL season came in 2021, when he played eight matches and bowled with an average of 6.16.

This year playing for KKR, Nortje didn’t get much chance to show his potential as this season the South African seamer has played just one game so far for KKR, where he picked up 1 wicket and gave 23 runs in 3 overs against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 15.

Ajinkya Rahane

Not knowing fact to several cricket fans, current KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane was once a part of the DC team for two seasons in 2020 and 2021. While most of the cricket viewers remember Rahane from his Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings days, he also played for the Delhi Capitals team for two consecutive seasons.

However, playing for DC Rahane did not have the best with the bat, as he was allowed to play in just 11 matches across the two seasons, where he scored 121 runs in total. In 2020, his average was just 14, and in 2021, it was just in a single digit, which is 8.

Now the KKR captain is having a fine season with the bat and leading the KKR boys, though KKR is struggling in the playoffs race, but it is exciting to see what the knights are capable of.

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<![CDATA[The Icon Players of Mumbai T20 League 2025: Star Cricketers Leading the Charge]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/the-icon-players-of-mumbai-t20-league-2025-star-cricketers-leading-the-charge/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/the-icon-players-of-mumbai-t20-league-2025-star-cricketers-leading-the-charge/ Tue, 29 Apr 2025 08:31:37 GMT

The T20 Mumbai League 2025 is returning after six years with a bang. The thrilling competition will be played between May 26 and June 8 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Promoted by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), the league is famous for providing opportunities for young cricketers to establish themselves and gain experience from stars.

Eight icon players have been signed by the MCA this year, and they have all played for India. They are among the best and most successful Mumbai cricketers. They include Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, and Tushar Deshpande.

Coming back with such stalwart names, the league will inspire budding cricketers and thrill the audience, says MCA President Ajinkya Naik. He is confident that these legends are the real ambassadors of and pass on the true spirit and legacy of Mumbai cricket and will guide young talent through the tournament.

Read More: [WATCH] Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s latest interview after his century vs GT – IPL 2025

Eight Franchises, Mentorship, and Huge Player Response

 There will be eight teams in the ongoing season, two of which will be new. All the teams are North Mumbai Panthers, ARCS Andheri, Triumph Knights, Namo Bandra Blasters, Eagle Thane Strikers, Aakash Tigers, and new teams SoBo Mumbai Falcons and Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals. Each team can select one icon player to strengthen their team. The auction will take place on a date to be announced in the near future.

Besides the star players, veteran mentors such as Abhishek Nayar and Paras Mhambrey have also joined to ensure there is player development. The league has received more than 2800 registrations, which indicates the massive level of excitement among the players to be on the platform. The T20 Mumbai League 2025 will certainly be an exciting and memorable cricket carnival with the right blend of experience and young guns.

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<![CDATA[T20 Mumbai League 2025: Squads, Captain and Everything you need to know]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/t20-mumbai-league-2025-squads-captain-and-everything-you-need-to-know/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/t20-mumbai-league-2025-squads-captain-and-everything-you-need-to-know/ Sun, 27 Apr 2025 12:46:51 GMT

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is going to resurrect the T20 Mumbai League for its 3rd season from May 26 to June 8, 2025, at Wankhede Stadium. The domestic T20 tournament that was last played in 2019 was put on hold due to the Covid pandemic and other issues but has now returned to entertain cricket fans in the metropolitan area. 

The league will start a day after the IPL 2025 final and will boast eight teams, all representing various suburbs of Mumbai. We have six teams returning from the previous iterations of the event—ARCS Andheri, Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs, Eagle Thane Strikers, Namo Bandra Blasters, North Mumbai Panthers, and Triumph Knights Mumbai North East. We will also welcome two new teams to the league - SoBo Mumbai Falcons and Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals.

Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav Creates History against LSG in IPL 2025: Know about momentous feat

The MCA has identified eight icon players to raise the visibility of the league: Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, and Prithvi Shaw. Every franchise has its one icon player, which adds a lot of star power and experience to their team.

The two weeks will be formatted round-robin and knockout and finish with the final on June 8. The MCA will announce the full schedule as well as live streaming details at a later date. The MCA is gearing up to make this a good event. 

T20 Mumbai League 2025: Overview 

  • Board: Mumbai Cricket Association
  • Season: 8
  • Format: T20, Round-Robin and Knockouts
  • Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
  • Dates: May 26 – June 8, 2025
  • Matches: TBA

Teams and Captains

Teams ARCS Andheri, Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs, Eagle Thane Strikers, Namo Bandra Blasters, North Mumbai Panthers, Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, SoBo Mumbai Falcons, and Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals —are yet to be announced.

Also Read: "Top 3 Auction blunders that led to CSK's struggles in IPL 2025"

T20 Mumbai League 2025: Schedule and Live Streaming Details

The dates for the T20 Mumbai League 2025 are confirmed, but the announcement for the full schedule is yet to be announced. The details of the live stream will be shared very soon for the tournament, and look for all the excitement with us to watch from the venue.

Stay connected with www.cricketwinner.com for more updates and news.

 

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<![CDATA[ 'I take this responsibility...' - Ajinkya Rahane reflects on KKR’s crushing defeat against PBKS in IPL 2025]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/i-take-this-responsibility-ajinkya-rahane-reflects-on-kkr-s-crushing-defeat-against-pbks-in-ipl-2025/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/i-take-this-responsibility-ajinkya-rahane-reflects-on-kkr-s-crushing-defeat-against-pbks-in-ipl-2025/ Wed, 16 Apr 2025 08:28:34 GMT

Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane took full responsibility following his team’s stunning 16-run defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 31 of IPL 2025 at Mullanpur. The batting side failed to salvage the game after reaching 62 for 2 but ended as 95 all out in their pursuit of 112 against Punjab Kings. This unexpected team failure stunned spectators during what seemed like an effortlessly simple pursuit and went down as one of the season's most shocking losses.

The responsibility for the defeat belongs to me, Rahane expressed during the post-game conference.
Our team controlled the match well based on our good start, but our batting group should have brought the contest to closure. Punjab Cricket delivered an excellent bowling performance, yet KKR failed to recover from their mistake in this match. Rahane provided an honest declaration about KKR's team frustrations because no other team outside Bengaluru has, for that matter, shown constant poor performance.

Also read: Ben Cutting revisits 2016 IPL final glory with SRH

Middle-Order Collapse and Tactical Missteps Cost KKR

The batsmen from KKR faced difficulty while Yuzvendra Chahal delivered 4 wickets for 28 runs to completely change the match's direction. During their collapse, Rahane expressed the opinion that both mental and strategic aspects of the team unraveled. “It’s disappointing. The team has shown good play throughout the tournament yet needs better composure when challenges arise in matches. The batting order needed a successful connection between batters because it would have produced different results, according to the KKR captain.

The latest defeat left KKR with four games lost out of their seven contests, while the team fell in rankings on the points table. Rahane expressed confidence because he wanted the team to stay focused and united for the upcoming games.
“It’s a long tournament. According to him, they possess ample time to bounce back, and their team maintains complete belief in its capability.

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<![CDATA[WATCH: Zaheer Khan Rings Bell at Eden Gardens Ahead of LSG vs KKR Clash–IPL 2025]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/watch-zaheer-khan-rings-bell-at-eden-gardens-ahead-of-lsg-vs-kkr-clash-ipl-2025/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/watch-zaheer-khan-rings-bell-at-eden-gardens-ahead-of-lsg-vs-kkr-clash-ipl-2025/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:32:23 GMT

Former Indian bowling legend Zaheer Khan gave a start to much-awaited Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) game by sounding the ceremonial bell at Eden Gardens on Tuesday, April 8. Zaheer, India's best fast bowler has an incredible record of 610 international wickets, highest among left-arm Indian bowlers. He has been newly appointed as LSG's mentor for the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gautam Gambhir was the mentor of the team in 2022 and 2023 in the past, but after his transition to KKR, LSG did not have that role last season, which was their first failure to qualify for the playoffs.

ALSO READ: “Ab Lucknowi Andaaz Mein!” – LSG Fans Celebrate After a Crazy Win Over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025

The bell-ringing ceremony in Eden Gardens began in 2016 when cricket legend Kapil Dev rang the bell prior to a Test against New Zealand. The idea was floated by former CAB President Sourav Ganguly, who had taken inspiration from the legendary tradition at Lord's Cricket Ground. Ever since, it has been a symbolic initiation to big matches in the stadium.

LSG Openers Take Control Early

KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane decided to bowl first in the day game. LSG batsmen capitalized on the chance, with Aiden Markram unleashing a barrage of forceful shots in the early overs. Mitchell Marsh was cautious in the beginning but started to pick up pace as he settled in.

ALSO READ: 'Parchi toh kategi hi' - Fans react as Digvesh Rathi pulls off another controversial celebration against KKR

Harshit Rana's start was a struggle, with 16 runs and a boundary off the beginning of his next. But he came back well to get Markram out on a canny slower ball that exploited his vulnerability in the 11th over.Despite that, LSG was in a strong position with 99 runs on the board and power-hitters like Nicholas Pooran and David Miller still waiting to bat, aiming to set a challenging total for the home side.

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<![CDATA[IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Highlights]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ipl-2025-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-lucknow-super-giants-match-highlights/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ipl-2025-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-lucknow-super-giants-match-highlights/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 13:41:11 GMT

A memorable outing for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. A solid foundation built by Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh turned into a monumental structure with the help of Nicholas Pooran (87*), who drove the Lucknow-based franchise to a total of 238/3. The target was little far to achieve for the defending IPL champion team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In reply to 238, KKR’s innings were restricted to 234/7.

Read More: Rishabh Pant Cheers from the Stands at ISL Semi-final Before KKR vs LSG Showdown

Toss and first innings

The surface of Eden Gardens had very little to offer for the bowlers. After winning the toss, Knight skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s decision to field first could have been perfect if his bowlers had at least been able to slow down the opponent team’s run rate. Harshit Rana took the wickets of Markram (47) and Abdul Samad (6) but went for a 12.75 economy rate in his 4-over quota. The other wicket fall, in the form of Marsh (81), was taken by Andre Russell. Russell took a wicket, bowled only 2 overs, and spent a total of 32 runs. Though Varun Chakaravarthy did not claim any wicket, he produced a 7.75 economy rate in his 4 overs quota, which proved that there was something for the bowlers in the pitch.

Second Innings

On their home ground, Knight Riders has shown their fighting spirits with the bat. Despite losing Quinton de Kock’s wicket early, KKR batters tried to maintain their momentum with a quick pace. Sunil Narine, who has so far remained cold in the ongoing IPL 2025, played a handy 30-run innings with a 230.77 strike rate. Skipper Rahane, with his well-composed batting, scored a brilliant 61 off 35 balls, accompanied by Venkatesh Iyer with a 29-ball, 45-run innings. Their efforts went in vain as the middle order and the lower middle order batters produced very little to take the team to the finish line. Rinku Singh (38 runs 15 balls) tried to make some impact at the last minute, but it was not enough. 

Post-Match Reactions

Rishabh Pant (LSG Skipper): "We didn’t realise the game would get this close when they batted in the first inning, but in the second inning, as the batters of KKR were batting, they knew that it would go close for sure. There were a lot of turning points in the game as after the first strategic break, told the bowlers to stick to their game plan and not try to overdo things. Our plan was to have a left-hand and right-hand batter at the crease as KKR spinners were bowling well.

Ajinkya Rahane (KKR Skipper): "Match was a really tight one, and this wicket looks good to bat on, and we fought well, fell short of just 4 runs in the end, but overall, it was a great game. When you are chasing 230 plus, you are bound to lose wickets in the middle as the intent was always there to just go for the boundaries. Everyone batted really well and it was really tough for the bowlers to contain here. The boundary was very short at one end of the square, and there is no complaint about the bowling attack, and Varun also bowled really well."

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants match scorecard

Lucknow Super Ginats- 238/3 (20 overs)

BattingRuns (Balls)BowlingWickets/ Runs (Overs)
Nicholas Pooran
 
87* (36)
Harshit Rana2/51 (4)
Mitchell Marsh
81 (48)
 
Andre Russell1/32 (2)
Aiden Markram
47 (28)
Varun Chakaravarthy0/31 (4)

Kolkata Knight Riders- 234/7 (20 Overs)

BattingRuns (Balls)BowlingWickets/ Runs (Overs)
Ajinkya Rahane
 
 
61 (35)
Shardul Thakur 2/52 (4)
Venkatesh Iyer
 
45 (29)
 
Akash Deep2/55 (4)
Rinku Singh
 
 
38* (15)
Digvesh Singh1/33 (4)

 

 

 

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