The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has long faced criticism for delayed player payments, disorganized tournament schedules, and weak broadcasting. But change may finally be coming.

International sports broadcasting company IPG Group, which has experience organizing leagues like the IPL, CPL, and LPL, has shown strong interest in managing the upcoming BPL season. Their aim is to fix the league’s structure and bring it up to global standards.

Speaking to the media, IPG’s CEO Anil Mohan said, “BPL is actually a fantastic league. But over the years, its model and management haven’t been handled properly. This league has more potential than many in the subcontinent. The current model needs fixing, there are issues, but we can solve them.”

Also Read -"Indian Team is a Different Kettle of Fish": Ashwin Warns England After Oval Curator Row

IPG Plans to Bring Global Standards to BPL

IPG has been successfully running the Lanka Premier League (LPL) for the past five years, managing everything from team ownership and sponsorships to production and broadcasting. “If you’ve seen LPL’s production quality, you’ll understand the level I’m talking about,” said Mohan.

Mohan believes that ownership and player consistency are key to improving the BPL. “You need the right owners and the right players every year. Timing is also critical. If BPL clashes with other leagues like IPL or PSL, you lose top talent. Fixing the schedule will bring in more sponsors and higher player participation,” he added.

Mohan praised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), saying it is “better than many” in terms of financial and commercial strength. “They’re better than Sri Lanka’s board in many ways. I’ve worked globally in South Africa, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, the USA, and Ireland, and I can confidently say BCB is well-positioned. That’s why I believe we can make BPL a top-tier league.”

New Franchise Structure for the Next Season

On foreign investment and team ownership, Mohan said, “The main idea is to bring in better owners, ideally from markets like the UK. That will lead to higher spending, better management, and more sponsor interest. Right now, BPL is falling behind. Media rights, scheduling, and player recruitment all need realignment. If we fix these, top players will want to come.”

IPG is currently in talks with the BCB to secure a management role in the tournament. They plan to use their global experience to work with the board and fix the system if needed.

The BPL Governing Council has ended contracts with the previous franchises. As a result, the upcoming season, likely to be held in December 2025 through January 2026, will start with an entirely new franchise structure.

Fortune Barishal, the reigning champions of the last two editions, will also need to reapply under the new system.

India are down 1-2 in the series against England as they head into the final match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, looking to level things up. As anticipation builds for the fifth and final Test against England, captain Shubman Gill has strongly hinted that 26-year-old left-arm pacer is set to make his Test debut. The match begins this Thursday in London.

Arshdeep Singh has already made his mark in white-ball cricket, with 99 wickets in 63 T20Is and 14 wickets in 9 ODIs. However, he’s yet to feature in the longest format. That is likely to change this week, with Arshdeep expected to join the playing XI.

Arshdeep may replace Anshul Kamboj in the lineup, although the final decision is still awaited. Gill also addressed possible changes to the squad, leaving room for strategic adjustments based on pitch conditions and team needs.

See Also: Sunrisers Hyderabad buy 100% stake of this franchise in The Hundred

Shubman Gill Talked About Potential Changes for the Upcoming Test:

Shubman Gill suggested that Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are likely to be the main spinners for the fifth Test, indicating that Kuldeep Yadav might miss out again. When asked about Arshdeep Singh's potential debut and England's decision to exclude Liam Dawson, Gill responded thoughtfully, hinting at strategic decisions based on team balance and pitch conditions.

In the press conference, skipper Gill said, “ Arshdeep Singh has been asked to get ready but we will take a call on the Playing XI after looking at the pitch, by this evening. England haven't gone with a frontline spinner. Jacob Bethell and Joe Root - I think they are going to have their spinning options with them. We have Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who have such a good job with the ball and the bat. On their front, it's a no-brainer for us.”

When questioned about India opting for a long batting lineup instead of an extra specialist bowler, Shubman said, “ Washington, he is someone who has given us so much control with the bowling. His batting has been a really big plus for us. We are fortunate to have players like him in the team, who can prevent a collapse. With him we have improved that area.”

Shubman Gill Updated on Jasprit Bumrah:

Shubman Gill didn’t clearly confirm whether Jasprit Bumrah will be available or miss the fifth Test, leaving his participation uncertain for now. He further said, “ We will take a decision tomorrow, wicket looks very green. So let's see.”

He added, “ 2-2 will be very significant for this team. Every match we have played, it was difficult to decide the winner after first four days. Series has been a great learning curve. Somethings you can learn from experience, hopefully finish on a high! All the matches in this series have gone till the last session of the fifth day. I don't remember any such series.”

It was the first week of February this year when the news came out that a third Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise had bought stakes in the ongoing Hundred sale. The Sun Group, owners of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, made the highest bid to buy a stake in the Northern Superchargers, whose host county is Yorkshire. They have agreed to get 100% of the side, both of ECB’s 49% and Yorkshire’s 51%.

On July 30, the Yorkshire Cricket Club confirmed the news of the operational control taking place from October 01, 2025. The deal sees a significant move when the club will get a financial influx, alongside getting a new, renowned strategic partner.

See Also: Major updates from Shubman Gill's press conference ahead of ENG vs IND fifth Test

‘This is a significant moment for everyone involved with Yorkshire Cricket and the Sun Group. The Sunrisers are going to be a great partner for the Club. It was clear from the first time we met them that they care about cricket and Yorkshire, and there are some very exciting times ahead of us. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the Sun Group for their support in getting us to this stage and look forward to welcoming them to the Yorkshire Cricket family.’ Sanjay Patel, the CEO of the club, expressed in a statement.

Sun Group completes 100% stake of Northern Superchargers in The Hundred

‘The deal puts the Club in a strong financial position, which has been far from the case for many years here, and we can start looking towards a very bright future. The priority is clearing our debts. We will then be looking at how we can invest the surplus funds to not only safeguard the future, but enable us to flourish.’ He added.

Along with the IPL, where the franchise became the champions of the 2016 season and ended up one step short of the same title-winning campaign in 2024, losing the final to the Kolkata Knight Riders. Their SA20 franchise became the champions of the first two editions of the event in South Africa.

‘We’re excited to have acquired the Northern Superchargers and to begin this new chapter in close collaboration with Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Yorkshire’s proud cricketing heritage, its passionate fan base, and the iconic Headingley Stadium make this a truly special opportunity. We are committed to building upon that legacy.’ Kavya Maran, the head of Sports, Sun TV Network Limited, shed light.

Shubman Gill and India prepare to walk off with a 2-2 drawn series result if they potentially win the fifth Test of the five-match series against England at the Kennington Oval in South London. The home side will be without their captain, Ben Stokes, and several vital players who have been given a break after two long days in the field at Old Trafford. 

Gill didn’t speak much on whether Jasprit Bumrah, their premier pacer, would feature in the series decider. He reckoned that the final decision would be taken on the morning of the game, which begins on July 31 in 2025. ‘We will make a decision (on Bumrah) tomorrow; the wicket looks very green. So we will see how it turns out.’ He added. England leaving out their frontine spinner could work in India's selector of Kuldeep Yadav. 

See Also: India Champions boycott WCL 2025 semifinal against Pakistan Champions: Reports

‘Arshdeep Singh has been asked to get ready, but we will take a call on the Playing XI after looking at the pitch by this evening. England haven't gone with a frontline spinner. We have Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who have done such a good job with the ball and the bat. On that front, it's a no-brainer for us.’ The Punjab-born highlighted.

Shubman Gill gives major update on India’s playing XI before ENG vs IND 5th Test against England

All five games of the series have rolled into the fifth and final scheduled day. Despite being physically and mentally challenging, it’s a learning chapter for the young Indian captain, who has enjoyed his time with the bat, having scored over 700 runs in the first four clashes. He felt drawing the series would be a commendable achievement for them.

‘2-2 will be very significant for this team. In every match we have played, it was difficult to decide the winner after the first four days. The series has been a great learning curve. Some things you can learn from experience, hopefully finish on a high.’ Gill shed light in the press conference.

‘As far as I remember, we never had any instructions before about maintaining a 2.5 m distance from the pitch. I don't know what the fuss was all about yesterday.’ Gill concluded on the pitch controversy between head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Surrey curator, Lee Fortis, who had a heated argument two days before the start of the clash.

After showing dominance in the ongoing England vs India series, Indian batters are in top form. In the latest ICC Rankings, young Indian star Abhishek Sharma became the third Indian to reach the No.1 spot as a T20I batter in the world. Jasprit Bumrah also continued to hold the No.1 position as a bowler in the Test rankings.

Apart from the Indian batters, India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Wednesday extended his lead to stay as the world’s No.1 all-rounder in Test cricket. England bowlers Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes also made gains in the latest rankings. England batter Joe Root climbed to the top spot in the batter rankings as well.

Also Read -"Indian Team is a Different Kettle of Fish": Ashwin Warns England After Oval Curator Row

Jadeja Also Reached a New Career-High Rating in the Batting Charts

In the Test rankings, Ravindra Jadeja further strengthened his position as the No.1 all-rounder. His performance in Manchester — taking four wickets and scoring a gritty unbeaten 107 — earned him 13 additional rating points, taking his tally to 422. Besides this, the veteran also reached a new career-high rating in the batting charts as he moved up to No.29 in the latest rankings.

India wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant also made progress inside the top 10, moving up one place to seventh after his half-century in Manchester despite battling injury. Meanwhile, teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped three spots to eighth.

Rishabh Pant - Number 7.
Yashasvi Jaiswal - Number 8.
Shubman Gill - Number 9.
Ravindra Jadeja - Number 29.
KL Rahul - Number 36.

INDIAN TEST BATTERS IN ICC RANKINGS 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/7coFecO8XP

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 30, 2025

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul Are Also Rising in the Rankings

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are also rising in the rankings. After scoring big runs in his first series as captain during a major team transition, Gill has led from the front with 722 runs so far. For his outstanding performances, Gill has moved up to No.9 in the rankings. Jasprit Bumrah continues to dominate as the No. 1-ranked Test bowler.

With 511 runs, KL Rahul has been consistent at the top of the order and has moved up to No.36.

Let’s take a look at where the Indian batters are placed in the latest ICC Test rankings:

1. Rishabh Pant – No.7
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal – No.8
3. Shubman Gill – No.9
4. Ravindra Jadeja – No.29
5. KL Rahul – No.36

Root Extends His Lead at the Top of Test Batting Rankings

Joe Root increased his lead at the top of the Test batting rankings after his innings of 150 at Old Trafford. With this performance, he overtook Australian legend Ricky Ponting and became the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket.

His England teammate Ben Duckett also made gains, moving back inside the top 10 after climbing five places to 10th overall with his knock of 94 in the same match. Ben Stokes also improved his ranking, reaching joint 34th in batting and third among all-rounders.

Among England’s other batters, Ben Duckett climbed to 10th, Ollie Pope to 24th, and Zak Crawley to 43rd. Among bowlers, Jofra Archer jumped 38 places to 63rd, while Chris Woakes moved up to 23rd.

When India Champions chased down the target against the West Indies in their last group-stage clash of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, they qualified for the semifinal, where they would face their arch-rival, Pakistan. But, during their group-stage clash, the game was canceled after the Indian players maintained their stance of not facing this opponent.

The recent news has revealed that they will keep going with the same decision and boycott the semifinal clash against the Mohammed Hafeez-led side. Generally, in such cases, the victory is awarded to the opposition side. That will see the Hafeez-led side advancing into the final of the tournament.

See Also: Ben Stokes rested as England announce their playing XI for ENG vs IND 5th Test

‘Indian players have refused to play against Pakistan in the WCL semifinal scheduled for Thursday. Retired international players representing India Champions have refused to play against Pakistan Champions in the semi-final of the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham.’ The recent reports claimed.

India Champions boycott WCL 2025 semifinal against Pakistan Champions

Earlier on July 30, the main sponsor of the WCL for the India side, EaseMyTrip, decided to take their name off the event in case the Blue Brigade face the Pakistan side in the semifinal, reaffirming the longstanding policy of non-participation in any match involving the neighbours.

‘The people of India have spoken, and we hear them. EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL. Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later, always. We applaud Team India @India_Champions for their outstanding performance in the World Championship of Legends. You’ve made the nation proud. However, the upcoming semi-final against Pakistan is not just another game. Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand.’ The co-founder of the travel-tech company, Nishant Pitti, said in a statement.

It has been a tough three weeks for the Indian champions, who lost their opening infield clash against the Proteas before facing another defeat against Australia. But their only and first victory over the Caribbean side was enough to get them into the semifinal of the competition. South Africa, on the other hand, will lock horns with Australia in the second semifinal.

East Molesey had an excellent tournament so far, winning three out of their five matches and currently hold the second position in the points table, they won their last match by 6 wickets against Banstead, successfully chasing down the target of 145 runs. 

On the other hand, Weybridge lost their last match by 6 wickets against Banstead and currently stand in the fourth position in the points table with five points. Their bowling unit failed to defend the target of 132 runs.

EM vs WEY Match Details

Date: July 30th, 2025

Time: 6:30 PM IST

Venue: Raynes Park Sports Ground, Wimbledon 

Live Streaming: Fancode 

EM vs WEY Weather Report

Clear Sky 

Also Read: ECS T10 England 2025: EM vs SPE Prediction– Match 11, Who will win today?

Top Batters EM vs WEY

• Michael Shean (EM) - 191 runs in this tournament 

• Aidan Golding (WEY) - 122 runs in this tournament

• Jamie Southgate (EM) - 86 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowler EM vs WEY

• Tharun Sreedevi (EM)  - 6 wickets in this tournament 

• Archie Houghton (EM)  - 4 wickets in this tournament

• Aidan Golding (WEY) -  5 wickets in this tournament

EM vs WEY Recent Performance

EM vs WEY Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If WEY bats first

• First Innings score prediction- WEY is expected to score 120-130 runs

• Result prediction- EM will win the match by 5 wickets.

Scenario 2- If EM bats first

• First Innings score prediction- EM is expected to score 140-150 runs.

• Result prediction- EM will win the match by 10-20 Runs

EM vs WEY Predicted Playing XI

East Molesey (EM) Playing XI 

Dominic Milliard (WK), Clyde Fortuin, Luka Woods, Jamie Southgate, Jake Tarling, Michael Shean, Joe Johnson, Tharun Sreedevi, Toby Porter, Toby Crowther, Archie Houghton.

Weybridge (SPE) Playing XI

Nathan Tilley, Aidan Golding, Nathan Robinson, Joey Field, Henry Francis(wk), Ansarullah Nooristani, Brent Kay©, Giles Cunningham, Seb Dunn, Fazal Husain, Luke Golding.

EM vs WEY Complete Squad

East Molesey - 

Michael Shean, Max Tomlinson, Dylan Marx, Jamie Southgate, Billy Dawson, Nick Stevens(WK), Tiam Afshar(WK), Dominic Millard(WK), Clyde Reeves-Fortuin, Tom Cullen, Oli Soames, Luka Woods, Luke James, Sam Burge, Shivamm Gupta, Toby Crowther, Jack Crowther, Tharun Sreedevi, Toby Porter, Joe Johnson, Jake Tarling, Archie Houghton.

Weybridge - 

Aidan Golding, Ansarullah Nooristani, Anthony Mackle, Ben Choy, Brent Kay, Fazal Husain, Freddie Huntington, Freddy Faircliff, Giles Cunningham, Hayden Debenham, Henry Francis, Jack Tricker, Joey Field, Kian Schwartz, Luke Golding, Luke Griffiths, Mohammad Shahid, Nathan Robinson, Nathan Tilley, Oliver Khaksar, Seb Dunn.

EM vs WEY Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

East Molesey To win

We predict that East Molesey will be winning this ECS T10 England match. The likes of Tharun Sreedevi, Michael Shean, and Jamie Southgate will be key players to watch out for

India’s final preparations for the decisive fifth Test took a dramatic turn when Gautam Gambhir and the Oval ground’s Chief Curator, Lee Fortis, were seen having a heated argument on Tuesday. Both sides have now shared their version of what happened.

Former Indian cricketer R Ashwin questioned the curator’s actions and recalled past incidents during India’s tours when such fiery exchanges boosted the team’s morale and brought out their best performance.

The incident took place during India’s training session on Tuesday, which was attended by ten players. Skipper Shubman Gill was notably absent. Fortis, who has earned praise for preparing quality multi-day pitches but is also known in county circles as a tough personality, stood firm and responded curtly: “I will have to report this.”

Also Read -[WATCH] R Sai Kishore bowls dream delivery for Surrey during County Championship 2025

'Different Kettle of Fish': Ashwin Warns England

Speaking on his YouTube channel, R Ashwin said this is not how England should play against the Indian team. He explained that the Indian team has the character to fight back when facing adversity and becomes a completely different side when provoked.

"After all that, when I saw the video of that fight today, I thought, 'Boss, what are you guys doing?' This is not how you want to play against this Indian team. I have always seen that when adversity strikes the Indian team, someone will rise up. When things are not going right, or when we are pushed against the wall, the Indian team is a different kettle of fish; it becomes a different beast," Ashwin said.

Earlier, Gautam Gambhir’s angry exchange with Oval curator Lee Fortis went viral after he was heard saying, "You don’t tell us what we need to do." Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak later explained in the press conference, "When we went to see the pitch, we were asked to keep a 2.5-metre distance. This was surprising as the Test was only a few days away, and we were wearing joggers. Curators can be possessive about the ground, but they need to understand they are speaking to highly skilled and experienced people."

Ashwin added, "I think that particular incident is a serious advantage for India going into this Test. It may not matter if England play good cricket, but I feel this was not the right way to provoke India."

Gambhir vs Oval curator: Ashwin says England have handed serious advantage to India#ENGvIND #INDvsENG #gautamgambhir #RavichandranAshwin #OvalPitch #OvalTest pic.twitter.com/ONTwORMd92

— Sports Today (@SportsTodayofc) July 30, 2025

'Adversity Unites the Team'

Ashwin also pointed out past incidents in India’s cricket history where the team bounced back strongly. He mentioned the Monkeygate scandal, the famous win at the Gabba, and the Lord’s Test where Virat Kohli told England, "60 overs of hell."

"When such an incident happens, the individually brilliant players will come together as a team. I have seen that many times. Look at Monkeygate; we played brilliantly in the next Test. Look at Gabba and Lord’s. These moments galvanize the team," Ashwin said.

The final Test at the Oval will begin on July 31.

England will be without their regular Test captain, Ben Stokes, for the fifth and final Test of the summer against India at the Kennington Oval in South London. The series stands at 2-1 ahead for the home side. Ollie Pope replaces Stokes with the leadership duties after the all-rounder got ruled out with a biceps tendon injury. Apart from this, they have decided to rest Jofra Archer.

Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse will take a break after their heavy workloads with the bat, while Liam Dawson has been left out. Jacob Bethell and Joe Root will be the two spin-bowling options on a surface known to help them. Chris Waokes is retained to lead an inexperienced pace bowling attack.

See Also: Twitter Reacts as Brendan Taylor set to return for Zimbabwe after serving 3 and half year ban

The two Surrey players, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton, make their way back into the side along with Josh Tongue. Stokes, who bowlers 11 overs on the final day with a hamstring and shoulder injury, explained that he was struggling with a biceps tendon injury in his right upper arm. It’s later understood to be a grade three tea which ruled him out of the decider.

England rest Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer for ENG vs IND 5th Test against India

Ben’s injury will be a massive blow for the Three Lions given that the right-arm pacer is the leading wicket-taker of the series with 17 scalps besides scoring his first century in two years in Manchester. But it’s also a concern as the Ashes 2025/26 trip down under is getting near this winter.

The 27-year-old Atkinson, who picked up a hamstring injury during the one-off Zimbabwe Test, has returned to the eleven after playing for Surrey’s second XI side. In 12 Tests, he has bagged 55 wickets at an average of 22.30 and has drilled 352 runs at a strike rate of nearly 80 with a century at Lord’s.

The pitch is expected to be a seam-friendly. Moreover, Surrey have not fielded any frontline spinner in most of their County games in the last couple of seasons. That shows the reason to leave Dawson and get Bethell in the eleven.

England’s playing XI for fifth Test against India

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Chris Woakes, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue.

The former Zimbabwe captain, Brendan Taylor, is ready to return to international cricket during the second Test of the two-match home series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. His sanction ended on July 25 and will feature from August 07.

Taylor, who has 2320 runs in 68 red-ball innings, hasn’t played since retiring abruptly in September 2021. Due to his ban, he wasn’t even able to train with the national and domestic squads. However, he had facilities to practice with the elite interdependent school in Harare and has felt more fit than ever. His eyes will be on the upcoming New Zealand Tests. 

See Also: Star SRH player becomes new number one T20I batter in ICC rankings

‘He'll be available for the second Test. But I also know how hard he's worked in his capacity - especially over the last eight, ten [or] 12 months - for this to happen. I'm very excited to have him come back into the space in the next few days, and looking forward to what he has to contribute towards the team and the group.’ Zimbabwe captain, Craig Ervine, expressed.

Twitter reacts to Brendan Taylor’s comeback to Zimbabwe side after three-and-half year ban

‘I've been humbled properly. I look forward to really just adding value, which I probably didn't do to the best of my ability when I was there before.’ The veteran right-handed batter expressed, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. He has celebrated six centuries in the longest format, including the 105* against Bangladesh, after their six-year self-imposed ban was lifted in 2011.

Zimbabwe has already named the 16-member squad for the two games, where they have kept one first-choice wicket-keeper batter in Tafadzwa Tsiga, who started the opening game of the fixture. Taylore makes his return for the side in a busy period of seven Tests in the year. Even though he won’t feature for the T20 World Cup qualifiers, there is a strong expectation of him turning up for the home ODI World Cup 2027.

🚨 39-YEAR-OLD BRENDAN TAYLOR RETURNING TO CRICKET 🚨

- He is set to play the 2nd Test against New Zealand after serving a 3 & half year ban for the Breaching ICC Anti Corruption Code. [Espn Cricinfo] pic.twitter.com/hiX1m2gQgf

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 30, 2025 

Brendan Taylor is scheduled to make a return. We are going to witness the greatest come back in the history of cricket 🥵🥵🔥😭 pic.twitter.com/HDIoM5CPk0

— Mayor Of You know What🌴 (@bxllyville) July 29, 2025

Here we Go. Brendan Taylor is back https://t.co/JD5X7jZfG1 pic.twitter.com/az3M9qjRaZ

— Sir Brendon Sann (@iamsirbreezy) July 29, 2025

Breaking

Brendan Taylor has joined the Zimbabwe National Men's Team in Bulawayo.

There is no confirmation on whether he will play or not, but I believe him being part of the team in Bulawayo is good enough to encourage others! pic.twitter.com/a7MaFGBnWc

— Chairman Bans (@The_Bans) July 29, 2025

Craig Ervine says he is excited to have Brendan Taylor back with the 🇿🇼🏏 test side. He expects BT's experience to be useful against NZ🇳🇿, although he is only available for the second test. pic.twitter.com/1PyLacCQXH

— Undisputed🎙️📺 (@Mr_Tich) July 30, 2025

Anticipation rises as the Delhi Premier League (DPL) kicks off its second season on August 2 at the famous Arun Jaitley Stadium, promising an exciting cricketing spectacle. After a successful first edition, the league returns with even more energy and fanfare.

Last year’s opening set a lively tone with a musical concert that blended sports and entertainment, creating a unique launch experience. This time around, fans can expect a similar celebration that reflects the vibrant culture of Delhi.

From glamorous performances to music and festivities, the DPL opening ceremony promises to deliver an unforgettable evening. With the capital city’s bold spirit on full display, this season’s start will bring together cricket, entertainment, and enthusiasm under one roof, giving fans a perfect mix of sport and spectacle.

See Also: [WATCH] R Sai Kishore bowls dream delivery for Surrey during County Championship 2025

Raftaar, Sunanda Sharma Set to Ignite Opening Night of DPL 2025:

Get ready for an unforgettable evening filled with glitz, music, and high-energy vibes as the DPL opening ceremony gears up to entertain.  Headlining the ceremony are some of the biggest names in the Indian music scene. 

Popular Punjabi singer Sunanda Sharma, dynamic rapper Raftaar, lyrical artist KRSNA, and the energetic hip-hop pair Seedhe Maut are all set to deliver electrifying performances that will thrill the audience and make the opening night truly unforgettable.

While talking about the opening ceremony, Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Rohan Jaitley said, “ We are thrilled to launch the second edition of the Delhi Premier League, ushering in a new chapter of excitement, opportunity, and high-quality cricket. This season marks a fresh beginning—not just for the teams and players, but also for fans across the city and beyond.”

He further said, “ With renewed energy, emerging talent, and a deeper commitment to promoting both men’s and women’s cricket, the DPL promises to deliver a bigger, bolder, and more engaging experience for everyone involved.”

The Delhi Premier League 2025 kicks off with an exciting opener as South Delhi Superstarz face off against reigning champions East Delhi Riders. With top players like Navdeep Saini, Anuj Rawat, Ayush Badoni, and Digvesh Rathi in action, the season opener is expected to be a thrilling encounter that sets the pace for the tournament.

The men’s final is scheduled for August 31, with September 1 kept as a reserve in case of weather interruptions. The women’s tournament will run from August 17 to 24, promising a week of intense and entertaining matches. This edition features eight men’s teams and four women’s sides, focusing on fair competition, rising stars, and engaging cricket for fans.

The left-handed opening batter of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Abhishek Sharma, has earned the top spot in the T20I batters’ rankings, as he replaced his IPL opening partner, Travis Head, with a rating of 829, nearly 15 more than the left-handed batter, who lost his position for the first time in more than a year. 

Abhishek Sharma burst into the international scene last year when he smashed a superb T20I century against Zimbabwe. However, he continued to struggle for consistency in the format before showing recent efforts against South Africa and England. The 24-year-old overtakes Head to become the third Indian player to hold the No. 1 spot in T20I after Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav.

See Also: [WATCH] R Sai Kishore bowls dream delivery for Surrey during County Championship 2025

Head was at the top place after he went past Sky during last year’s Men’s T20 World Cup, but his decision to sit out of the five-match T20I series against the West Indies in the Caribbean has seen him lose the position to Sharma. Suryakumar held the top rank while Kohli was the first Indian player to hold the spot during the period between 2014 and 2017.

India show dominance with number one ranks in various departments

India is now the number one-ranked side in the ODIs and T20Is, while their Test batter, Shubman Gill, remains the number one 50-over ranked batter. Abhishek, who has smashed 535 T20I runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 193.84, joins Jasprit Bumrah, who is the number one-ranked Test bowler.

Number 1 ODI team - India
Number 1 T20I team - India
Number 1 ODI batter - Gill
Number 1 T20I batter - Abhishek
Number 1 Test bowler - Bumrah
Number 1 Test all-rounder - Jadeja
Number 1 T20I all-rounder - Hardik

THE DOMINANCE OF TEAM INDIA 🇮🇳💥 pic.twitter.com/jtoESTvD6B

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 30, 2025

Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya are also the number one-ranked all-rounders in the Test and T20I formats. Josh Inglis, who celebrated two half-centuries in the Caribbean T20Is, has moved six places up to the ninth rank among T20I batters. Cameron Green climbs up a whopping 64 spots to go to 24th after his 205 runs across five matches and the Player of the Series heroics.

TWI vs SPE ECS T10 England, 2025 Match Preview:

Twickenham (TWI) suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat in their recent match against EM. TWI won 1 out of their 3 matches and holds last place with 4 points. Juan Henri, Carlos Nunes and Blake van der Linde are their key performers.

Spencer (SPE) also won their previous match against BST by 7 wickets. SPE moved to third place with two consecutive wins. Daniel Adams' aggressive innings played a key role in SPE’s dominant performance over BST. TWI is ahead in the head-to-head stats against SPE and will look to continue its dominance

TWI vs SPE Recent Performance

TWI vs SPE ECS T10 England, 2025 Match Details:

• Series/Tournament: ECS T10 England, 2025
• Match: TWI vs SPE Match 12 
• Date: 30 July 2025
• Match Start Time: 04:30 PM IST
• Stadium/Venue: Raynes Park Sports Ground, Wimbledon, England
• Live Score: cricketwinner.com
• Live Streaming: ECS and Fan Code app.

TWI vs SPE Head-to-Head Stats:

TWI vs SPE Pitch & Weather Report:

The weather for the 12th match of the ECS T10 Wimbledon, England, 2025, is ideal. However, the sky will be clear. There is no possibility of rain. The temperature can go up to 12-15 degrees Celsius.

According to previous data, the average score at this venue ranges between 120 and 140 runs. The surface is excellent for the batters and fast bowlers, promising a balanced contest.

TWI vs SPE Toss History: 

At the Raynes Park Sports Ground, Wimbledon, England, approximately 52% of matches have been won by the chasing side, indicating that the surface is more favourable for batters in the second innings.      

TWI vs SPE Probable Playing 11

Twickenham (TWI) Probable 11:

1. Ryaan Hussain(WK), 2. Blake van der Linde, 3. Patrick Dixon, 4. Neville Talbot, 5. Muhammad Ahmad(WK)/Carlos Nunes, 6. Eugene Berger, 7. Nikhil Nomula, 8. Phil Nash, 9. Gurjit Sandhu, 10. Callum Watson, 11. Angus McKenzie

Spencer (SPE) Probable 11:

1. Ben Reffitt, 2. Jack Scriven, 3. Ted Landray, 4. Jens Wagstaff, 5. Harshil Patel, 6. Cameron Kerr(WK), 7. Freddie Horler, 8. Dan Smith, 9. Zakirullah Oriakhil, 10. Daniel Adams, 11. Gus Grant

Injury Update: There are no injury concerns reported so far 

TWI vs SPE - Top Picks from Picks Twickenham (TWI)   

TWI vs SPE - Top Picks from East Molesey (TWI) 

TWI vs SPE Cricket Winner Player Insights:

• Juan Henri (TWI) scored 34 runs and took 5 wickets in two matches. He was unavailable in the previous game; if he plays today's match, he will be a must-own pick.
• Blake van der Linde (TWI) scored 26 runs in the previous match. So far, he has scored 28 runs and taken 4 wickets. 
• Carlos Nunes (TWI) scored 26 runs off 12 balls. So far, he has scored 84 runs and taken 2 wickets. He will be a good pick for the fantasy team.
• Daniel Adams (SPE) played a match-winning knock of 84 runs off 38 balls against BST. He will be a good pick in this match.
• Freddie Horler (SPE) is a key allrounder and he handles the middle order. So far, he has taken 4 wickets and scored 48 runs. 

TWI vs SPE Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:

TWI vs SPE Fantasy Team Suggestion: 

TWI vs SPE Dream11 Prediction Expert Advice 

TWI vs SPE Dream11 Prediction Probable Winners:

Twickenham (TWI) is expected to win this match. Despite losing their previous game, TWI holds a strong head-to-head record against SPE. If they play to their full potential, they have a good chance of emerging victorious.

TWI vs SPE ECS T10 Wimbledon FAQ

Who is likely to win the TWI vs SPE match today?

Twickenham (TWI) is expected to win this match.

Who is ahead in head-to-head stats?

Twickenham (TWI).

Who are the top fantasy picks for the TWI vs SPE Dream11 team?

Carlos Nunes, Juan Henri, Daniel Adams and Freddie Horler.

What is the pitch report for this match?

The pitch is batting-friendly, and we can expect an average score range between 110 and 140 runs.

When Surrey signed R Sai Kishore for the last few games of the County Championship 2025, it was expected to see the left-arm spinner earn success with his excellent bowling. On July 30, he showed his skills during the red-ball clash against Durham at Riverside Ground in Chester-Le-Street. He made a huge impact in his second appearance for the side.

It was the magical delivery from the Tamil Nadu spinner that caught the eyes of the world as the video went viral. One of the dream deliveries for any left-arm spinner is to loop the ball in the air and square the batter in two halves. It was the delivery from the GT spinner that was middle on the middle of the surface and held its line.

See Also: Bharat Arun to join this franchise ahead of IPL 2026

The Durham wicket-keeper batter, Ollie Robbinson, had no idea of how to deal with the delivery. He pushed back to the back foot and was bamboozled by the straight line, seeing it holding the straight line, and crashed into the stump. The batter got dismissed for two runs in five runs.

Watch: R Sai Kishore bowls dream delivery for Surrey during County Championship 2025

Later, the spinner picked up the wicket of Bas de Leede for a four-ball duck after being adjudged leg before the stumps. The home side won the toss and opted to bat first. Captain Alex Lees got 34 runs in 70 balls while Colin Ackerman drilled 51 runs in 104 balls, hitting six boundaries. Matthew Potts got 32 runs as they were bundled out for 153 runs in 55.1 overs.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans)

Surrey didn’t get a good start in the second innings as they lost both their openers for 23 runs in the first hour. Ryan Patel rescued them with 58 runs in 72 balls at a strike rate of 80.56, thanks to nine boundaries and one six. Dan Lawrence nailed an unbeaten 68 runs in 84 balls at a strike rate of 80.95, thanks to nine fours and one six.

Surrey ended the day with 182/5, having already taken a lead of 29 runs. They are at the top of the points table in Division One of the County Championship 2025 with three victories in 10 encounters with 154 points.

When Chandrakant Pandit decided to part ways with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on July 31, the reports claimed that the former bowling coach of the Indian side, Bharat Arun, would work for the new franchise. Many reported that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will get the chance, but it has been confirmed that the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have earned his services.

He had a successful stint with the IPL 2024 champions, including four years for the franchise, starting from 2022. None of the parties involved, KKR, LSG, and Arun, decided to comment on the development as Cricbuzz reported the fresh news. He has signed a two-year deal with the Sajiv Goenka-owned side for a role that will require him to work with the players throughout the year.

See Also: [WATCH] Eoin Morgan analyzes MS Dhoni's superb captaincy during 2013 Champions Trophy

The induction of Arun in the side means that Lucknow is unlikely to continue with the former left-arm pacer, Zaheer Khan, the mentor of the Rishabh Pant-led side last season. It was reported in the past that Zaheer had a one-year contract with the side, and the management is reviewing the deal. Justin Langer is also expected not to stretch his time.

Lucknow Super Giants hire Bharat Arun as bowling coach before IPL 2026

The Kolkata Knight Riders have taken huge pride in their coaching staff getting promoted to the national side in some shape or form. Gautam Gambhir, Ryan Ten Doeschate, and Abhishek Nayar got the contract for the Indian side, while Brandon McCullum, Trevor Bayliss, and physio Kamlesh Jain were among others to join the England side.   

Bharat Arun and KKR have parted ways amicably. Dwayne Bravo, the mentor of the side, is also expected to end his tenure before the new season. The former West Indies captain is also among the coaching management of the Knight Riders’ family in the Major League Cricket for the Los Angeles side. It had been reported that the principle was conveyed to Arun, who asked the franchise for getting released.

Kolkata finished in the eighth position in the points table of the IPL 2025. They played 14 games in the group stage of the competition with five victories and seven defeats at a net run rate of -0.305.  

It was the day when MS Dhoni, with his leadership skills, provided India the Champions Trophy 2013 after beating England in the final from a position where, for once, it looked impossible to earn the victory for the Blue Brigade. From being the villain at one stage, Ishant Sharma became the hero in between six deliveries. 

The former left-handed batter, Eoin Morgan, whose dismissal changed the game, lauded the leadership of the Indian captain that evening. He thought that the home side was well ahead in the contest, with the runs coming in his partnership with Ravi Bopara. The former England batter also displayed his surprise when Dhoni threw the ball to Ishant.

See Also: Key players sidelined: Know unavailable stars' names for The Hundred 2025

‘We had the game in the bag, and it’s one of the first times in a 50-over game as an ODI side for England, we were at the point of winning the tournament. We were going well, and they had to make changes to shift the momentum. I was at the crease with Ravi Bopara, and the partnership was going well with a nice flow for us in the game.’ Morgan expressed in a recent video.

Watch: Eoin Morgan highlights MS Dhoni’s leadership brilliance during 2013 Champions Trophy

‘And both of us were shocked when MS Dhoni gave the ball to Ishant Sharma, who didn’t have a great day before that. And Ravi thought that it was a great chance to accelerate.’ The southpaw added as the lanky pacer sent back both the batters in the middle of six deliveries to pack the game.

Dhoni the captain peaked here 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/dtrUjLhkGC

— ` (@WorshipDhoni) July 30, 2025

Then it was the famous moment when James Tradewell missed the ball alongside Dhoni, but it didn’t matter as they had already earned the victory to lift the title.

‘Once you start, you have to go through everything, but it’s important to be positive always. When we started, I told them to look for a good start, which is critical. Don’t think about the result. And the first and foremost thing was not to look up. God is not going to come and save us. You have to fight it out. We are the number one-ranked team. If we lose, they have to make the runs. We won’t make it easy for them.’ Dhoni spoke at the post-match press conference.

After the end of the fifth Test of the five-match series against India at the Kennington Oval in South London, the focus and attention will turn to The Hundred 2025, which begins on August 05 at Lord’s between the London Spirit and Oval Invincibles. However, several players are expected to be unavailable for the beginning of the competition.

Rachin Ravindra, the left-handed opening batter of New Zealand, who will feature for Manchester Originals, is expected to miss the first four games due to his international commitment. The Chennai Super Kings’ opening batter is currently playing for the Kiwis during the two-match Test series in Zimbabwe.

See Also: Former India star excludes Jasprit Bumrah to name India's playing XI against England during 5th Test at Kennington Oval

Noor Ahmed, the left-arm wrist spinner, for Manchester will also miss the last three group games and the finals due to Afghanistan’s potential series against Pakistan. The same issue will occur for the Oval Invincibles’ Rashid Khan, who will also miss the last three group-stage clashes and the final. It will be a huge blow in the spin department for both sides.

Afghanistan players to miss the Hundred 2025 finals due to national commitments

Trent Rockets’ left-arm spinner, George Linde, will not be available for the first four overs of The Hundred 2025 season. The Protea spinner has picked up 191 wickets in 203 innings at a T20 average of 26.06 and an economy rate of 7.44. With the bat, he has smashed 2370 runs in 163 innings at a strike rate of 135.50. However, he will feature for South Africa’s white-ball series in Australia.

Apart from these, Northern Superchargers’ Mitchell Santner will be away from the 100-ball competition for the first three days as he will be part of the Test series in Zimbabwe. The left-arm spin all-rounder will lead the Blackcaps during the opening Test of the series at the Queens Park Oval in Bulawayo. The left-arm pacer, Ben Dwarshuis, will be out of the last three group-stage encounters and the finals.

All the teams are expected to announce the replacements later this week. The last game in the group stage will take place at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on August 28 between Southern Brave and Welse Fire. The final will occur at Lord’s on August 31.

The former Indian opening batter, Wasim Jaffer, has revealed his playing eleven for the Blue Brigade ahead of the fifth Test of the five-match series against England at the Kennington Oval in South London. He has retained the same top three for the side, as KL Rahul has found his rhythm after a century at Lord’s and 90 at Old Trafford.

Sai Suhdarsan has held his place in the side, despite getting a first-ball duck in Manchester during the second innings. The southpaw scored a fine half-century in the first innings of the game, as captain Shubman Gill undoubtedly secured fourth place. With Rishabh Pant getting ruled out of the contest, Jaffer has shown his trust in Dhruv Jurel.

See Also: [WATCH] Gautam Gambhir under pressure ahead of ENG vs IND 5th Test at Kennington Oval? India's batting coach comments

Jurel kept wickets at Lord’s and Manchester due to injury. However, the right-handed batter will now take full part at Oval as he looked in fine touch during the two India-A games before the start of the series. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar can’t be dropped after their fabulous performance in Manchester.

Wasim Jaffer picks India’s playing XI against England during 5th Test at Kennington Oval

The entire world kept asking for Kuldeep Yadav in the Test series. But the wrist spinner didn’t get his chance. Jaffer has brought the Uttar Pradesh-born in place of Shardul Thakur, whose batting wasn’t needed much besides his poor bowling in Manchester.

Jasprit Bumrah, reportedly, has been ruled out of the Oval Test with injury, and that has been a brutal blow for the Blue Brigade. They will now have to go with Mohammed Siraj, despite the latter looking tired by the end of the fourth game. Jaffer has held the Hyderabad-born in the side.

He feels that the left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh should get his debut in the longest format, while the management would bring Akash Deep for the contest. The Bengal pacer missed the last game due to a side strain injury he picked up at Lord’s.

Wasim Jaffer’s India XI for ENG vs IND 5th Test at Kennington Oval, London

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shuman Gill (captain), Dhruv Jurel (wk..), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep

EM vs SPE ECS T10 England, 2025 Match Preview:

East Molesey (EM) defeated BST by 6 wickets and secured their third win in the tournament. EM holds the second spot in the points table with 12 points. Archie Houghton and Michael Shean have been their consistent performers. 

Spencer (SPE) also won their previous match against BST by 7 wickets. SPE moved to third place with two consecutive wins. Daniel Adams' aggressive innings played a key role in SPE’s dominant performance over BST. In this match, both teams will aim to continue their winning streak.

EM vs SPE Recent Performance

EM vs SPE ECS T10 England, 2025 Match Details:

• Series/Tournament: ECS T10 England, 2025
• Match: EM vs SPE Match 11 
• Date: 30 July 2025
• Match Start Time: 02:30 PM IST
• Stadium/Venue: Raynes Park Sports Ground, Wimbledon, England
• Live Score: cricketwinner.com
• Live Streaming: ECS and Fan Code app.

EM vs SPE Head-to-Head Stats:

EM vs SPE Pitch & Weather Report:

The weather for the 11th match of the ECS T10 Wimbledon, England, 2025, is ideal. However, the sky will be clear. There is no possibility of rain. The temperature can go up to 12-15 degrees Celsius.

According to previous data, the average score at this venue ranges between 120 and 140 runs. The surface is excellent for the batters and fast bowlers, promising a balanced contest.

EM vs SPE Toss History: 

At the Raynes Park Sports Ground, Wimbledon, England, approximately 61% of matches have been won by the chasing side, indicating that the surface is more favourable for batters in the second innings.      

EM vs SPE Probable Playing 11

East Molesey (EM) Probable 11:

1. Dominic Millard(WK), 2. Clyde Reeves-Fortuin, 3. Jake Tarling, 4. Luka Woods, 5. Joe Johnson, 6. Michael Shean, 7. Jamie Southgate, 8. Archie Houghton, 9. Tharun Sreedevi, 10. Toby Crowther, 11. Toby Porter

Spencer (SPE) Probable 11:

1. Ben Reffitt, 2. Jack Scriven, 3. Ted Landray, 4. Jens Wagstaff, 5. Harshil Patel, 6. Cameron Kerr(WK), 7. Freddie Horler, 8. Dan Smith, 9. Zakirullah Oriakhil, 10. Daniel Adams, 11. Gus Grant

Injury Update: There are no injury concerns reported so far 

EM vs SPE - Top Picks from Picks East Molesey (EM)

EM vs SPE - Top Picks from East Spencer (SPE)

EM vs SPE Cricket Winner Player Insights:

• Michael Shean (EM) played an explosive innings of 31 runs off just 13 balls in their match against TWI. So far, he has scored 191 runs and taken 3 wickets in his 4 matches. He will be the favourite as a captain in today's match.
• Jamie Southgate (EM) is another solid pick from the EM side. He is a top-order batsman; he scored 37 runs in the last match and helped their team roll over BST.
• Archie Houghton (EM) emerged as a potential match-winner for EM in the last two matches. So far, he has scored 60 runs and taken 4 wickets.
• Daniel Adams (SPE) played a match-winning knock of 84 runs off 38 balls against BST. He will be a good pick in this match.
• Freddie Horler (SPE) is a key allrounder and he handles the middle order. So far, he has taken 4 wickets and scored 48 runs. 

EM vs SPE Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:

EM vs SPE Fantasy Team Suggestion: 

EM vs SPE Dream11 Prediction Expert Advice 

EM vs SPE Dream11 Prediction Probable Winners:

East Molesey (EM) is expected to win this match. East Molesey (EM) has a stronger batting unit than SPE. Additionally, they won their last match against SPE by 8 wickets, which boosted their confidence. 

EM vs SPE ECS T10 Wimbledon FAQ

Who is likely to win the EM vs SPE match today?

East Molesey (EM) is expected to win this match.

Who is ahead in head-to-head stats?

East Molesey (EM).

Who are the top fantasy picks for the EM vs SPE Dream11 team?

Michael Shean, Jamie Southgate, Archie Houghton and Freddie Horler.

What is the pitch report for this match?

The pitch is batting-friendly, and we can expect an average score range between 110 and 140 runs.

The series is poised at a 2-1 margin after India drew the fourth Test of the five-match series against England at Old Trafford in Manchester, thanks to their dominating batting performance to show patience and determination for five sessions. Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, and Washington Sundar celebrated their respective centuries.

Gautam Gambhir is now the senior head coach to the young captain, while he was the junior head coach to the senior captain a few months ago. So, the responsibility is huge on his shoulders to draw the series, having lost the last two at home and away. India’s batting coach, Shitanshu Kotak, revealed whether that has put pressure on the veteran.

See Also: 'Terror and Cricket...'- EaseMyTrip takes huge decision on India Champions vs Pakistan Champions semifinal in WCL 2025

‘No, it’s. I think it’s been a very competitive series. Both teams have played well. We know that the first Test and the Lord’s Test could have gone either way. So, all the Test matches went to the fifth day. So it’s been a brilliant Test series so far. But Gautam Gambhir is someone I don’t think would be under pressure. I never saw him under pressure in our playing days to now.’ Kotak expressed in the press conference.

Watch: Shitanshu Kotak comments on Gautam Gambhir’s under-pressure situation before Eng vs Ind 5th Test

Kotak addressed that throughout the series, there were several instances of the visiting side being ahead in the game but ending on the wrong side of the result. He gave examples of Lord’s and Leeds, where they could have earned the victory if they had handled the pressure better.

Is Gambhir under pressure ahead of the 5th Test❓

India's batting coach answers, here 👇#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/tBIR7WNLDE

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) July 30, 2025

‘So, definitely, not under pressure. Yeah, we wish in the Lord’s Test we could have won and go 2-1 up. We all think, but that’s not pressure. That’s just going back and thinking about what we could have done better or do something different. That’s normal. Nothing about pressure or anything like that.’ Kotak shed light.

The fifth Test of the series will take place at the Kennington Oval in South London from July 31. The biggest blow for the visitors will be that their premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, has reportedly been ruled out of the contest, keeping an eye on his fitness and injuries.