Nicholas Pooran's Sportsmanship Shines as Tom Curran Gets a Second Chance

The game between MI Emirates and the Gulf Giants was exciting on January 25. Nicholas Pooran, who plays for the MI Emirates. Pooran said, I apologize for thinking Tom Curran was out and pooran called him back. This made a large number of fans clap for Nicholas because he was very fair.

It all happened at the end of the game when the Gulf Giants needed to score runs at the end. Tom went out a little but didn't know Nicholas still had the ball. Nicholas thought Tom was out , and the umpire even said so after looking at it again. However, Andy Flower, coach of Gulf Giants, got mad about it. Nicholas realized it wasn't fair, so he changed his mind, which got him a lot of applause.

Captain Pooran appeals ➡️ Run-out given ➡️ Coach Flower not happy ➡️ Tom Curran walks out ➡️Tom Curran walks back!

📹@ILT20Official | #ILT20 pic.twitter.com/3CMJ1WjeTt

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 25, 2025

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Nicholas said after the game that, by the rules, Tom was out, but he has a simple belief that being kind and honest is very important too. The game was really close, and everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats. The Gulf Giants had to get 17 runs, got pretty intense. Fazalhaq made it hard for the Gulf Giants. Aayan sent the ball a long Six after that. It was so fantastic, and the groups were jumping and screaming with wild excitement because the game was now not very hard for the Gulf Giants. It was somewhat like having a counterbalanced response since Nicholas was being good and fair earlier. But then, the Gulf Giants got some luck too, when they really needed to catch up on runs since the game was almost done.

Tom Curran had a turn to strike the ball, and even though things were tense, he put in a lot of effort to hit th ball. Curran scored 16 runs before and then Mousley got him out. Then Muhammad Zuhaib stayed calm and struck the ball to become the winning hit on the last ball, Because of what he did, the Gulf Giants won the game by just two wickets. Nicholas Pooran asked Tom Curran to play again, even though it was a very big problem. Even though the MI Emirates didn't win, Pooran's choice made people like him a lot. It showed everyone watching that being nice and fair in sports is vitally important.

RCB Head Coach Andy Flower Reveals Bold Strategy for IPL 2025

Andy Flower, the head coach for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has shared the team's plans for the IPL 2025 season, and it's causing a lot of excitement. There will be wonderfully new changes to how they approach batting and bowling. Everyone's speaking a lot about the new starting players and the new players joining the team.

Kohli and Salt: A Dynamic Opening Pair

Flower said they're extremely happy with the team they have today, and that it was vitally important to have a powerful batter, like Phil Salt, open the innings with Virat Kohli from RCB. We removed most of the players we wanted, honestly. Having that very strong beginning with Salt partnering up with Virat is of significant consequence for us, Flower explained.

This pairing is expected to combine Kohli’s unmatched consistency and Salt’s aggressive intent, creating a formidable opening duo capable of setting the tone for matches. The move underscores RCB’s commitment to maximizing powerplay runs and providing a solid foundation for the middle order.

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Andy Flower said "Virat Kohli & Phil Salt will be at the Top for RCB in IPL 2025". [Sports Tak] pic.twitter.com/gbM3RbDOmL

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 10, 2025

Strengthened Middle Order

Flower is excited about having Liam Livingstone, Rajat Patidar, and Jitesh Sharma on the team. He said that having Livingstone is exceptionally wonderful because even though he's great now, his best might still be to come. RCB's batting seems stronger than ever with these men, especially in the middle. Livingstone, along with Patidar and Sharma, are counted on to keep things steady and increase the aggression in the closing parts of their games.

Reinforced Bowling Attack

At the club, having Hazlewood return is very wonderful. The observer noted that it is nice we have killer Bhuvi today. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, a seasoned Indian bowler, and Krunal Pandya are joining the team, which is very important. She noted that their skills would be very helpful, especially with Krunal's talents teaming up nicely with Bhuvi's. Together, they're going to make a major difference for RCB.

The bowling lineup now includes proven performers like Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, and Rasik Salaam. Flower praised Yash Dayal’s performance last season and emphasized the importance of such depth and variety, particularly at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, known for its batting-friendly conditions.

Moving on from Faf du Plessis

RCB faced a strikingly large choice this season when they decided not to keep Faf du Plessis as their captain. Flower said a lot about du Plessis, stating, there were multiple discussions about Faf du Plessis. Mr. Plessis is in great form as well. And he's a wonderful captain, incredible person. Mr. Plessis has been a wonderful leader for RCB.

However, RCB’s focus on securing an opening batter who could also keep wickets resulted in Salt’s selection, making it unfeasible to retain Faf. "Unfortunately, Faf, it didn’t fit for him to come back on this occasion," Flower explained.

Building for Success

This season, RCB made a strikingly large decision not to have Faf Du Plessis as their captain anymore. Flower really talked a lot about Du Plessis, mentioning they had a large amount of discussions about him. He also said Mr. Du Plessis is doing very well in games and is a very good person and captain. Truly, Mr. Du Plessis has been an amazing leader for RCB.

However, RCB’s focus on securing an opening batter who could also keep wickets resulted in Salt’s selection, making it unfeasible to retain Faf. "Unfortunately, Faf, it didn’t fit for him to come back on this occasion," Flower explained.

Virat Kohli Career Stats

Phil Salt Career Stats

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is gearing up to release an advertisement for the highly coveted position of head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team. With Rahul Dravid’s tenure as coach set to conclude, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates the appointment of his successor.

Rahul Dravid’s Tenure and Potential Reapplication

Rahul Dravid, the current head coach of Team India, is nearing the end of his tenure, which is scheduled to conclude in June. However, BCCI’s secretary Jay Shah has clarified that Dravid can reapply for the position if he wishes to continue his coaching journey with the Indian team. Despite this opportunity, it is unlikely that Dravid will extend his tenure beyond June, given his long stint in the role.

Exploring Potential Contenders

As speculation mounts regarding the next head coach of Team India, several potential contenders have emerged, both from India and abroad. These individuals bring a wealth of experience and expertise, making the selection process all the more intriguing.

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1. VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman’s coaching journey with Team India began on a high note, with successful stints in the T20 series and a gold medal triumph at the Asian Games 2023. One of Laxman’s notable coaching achievements came during the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, where he led the Indian team to a gold medal triumph.

Currently serving as the Director of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and head coach of the Indian U-19 team, Laxman’s strategic understanding and commitment to player development make him a compelling candidate for the head coach role.

2. Ricky Ponting

With extensive coaching experience, including successful stints with Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals in the IPL, Ricky Ponting emerges as a formidable foreign candidate. He was the coach of Mumbai Indians from 2014-2016 and led them to a trophy in 2015. Post that, he had a couple of coaching stints with the Aussie side in 2017, and then in a tri-series later in the year as well. Then he has been coaching the Delhi Capitals side since 2018.

His proven track record as both a player and a coach, coupled with his astute cricketing acumen, positions him as a strong contender for the Team India head coach role.

3. Ashish Nehra

Despite his unorthodox coaching style, Ashish Nehra has made significant strides in the coaching arena. He has led the Gujarat Titans to wonders with the Gujarat Titans, having won the title in 2022, and making finals in 2023 and earned praise for his camaraderie with players.

In fact, if reports are to be believed, Nehra was offered the role of Team India’s T20I coach, but he declined the offer, in November 2023, after the World Cup. That was perhaps due to his contract with IPL franchise GT.

While his coaching experience may be limited, Nehra’s deep understanding of the game and ability to foster a positive team environment make him a compelling candidate for the position.

4. Andy Flower

Andy Flower’s coaching pedigree speaks for itself, with notable achievements as head coach of the England cricket team, including Ashes victories and an ICC T20 World Cup triumph.

His extensive coaching experience spans various cricketing leagues, currently overseeing teams like Multan Sultans (MS) in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and St Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Flower’s diverse coaching background and proven track record make him an enticing prospect for any cricketing outfit, including Team India. His analytical approach and innovative strategies could inject fresh vitality into Team India’s tactics, making him a sought-after candidate for the head coach role.

5. Gautam Gambhir

As a former India opener and mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders, Gautam Gambhir brings a unique blend of aggression and leadership to the coaching arena. He was also Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor during the IPL 2022 edition. Gambhir was impressive and expressive as LSG reached the playoffs in their debut season in the T20 league.

While his coaching experience may be limited compared to other contenders, Gambhir’s passion for the game and commitment to excellence make him a compelling candidate for the Team India head coach position.