The ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand has so far consisted of one match, with the series 1–0 in favor of New Zealand. The second encounter is scheduled for Seddon Park in Hamilton. With the momentum after their victory in the first ODI, the hosts will seek to clinch the series, while Pakistan hope to recover and keep the series alive.

Match Details – 2nd ODI

1st ODI Recap

New Zealand began the series on a high note with a convincing 73-run victory. Given to bat first, the hosts put up a huge score of 344/9, with a scintillating 132 from Mark Chapman and a steady 76 from Daryl Mitchell.

In reply, Pakistan scored 271 before being bowled out in the 45th over. Babar Azam scored the highest with 78, while Salman Agha contributed a 58-ball 58. Nathan Smith was the star of the bowling attack, taking 4 wickets, while Jacob Duffy took 2.

Predicted Playing XI – New Zealand

Bench: Nick Kelly, Mohammad Abbas, Rhys Mariu

Predicted Playing XI – Pakistan

Bench: Faheem Ashraf, Irfan Khan Niazi, Akif Javed, Sufiyan Muqeem

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What to Watch

The second ODI promises several key mini-battles. New Zealand’s young squad has shown maturity and composure, but can they maintain consistency to close out the series? Pakistan will be hoping that their experienced top order, led by Babar and Rizwan, can guide them to a comeback. The middle overs will be crucial, particularly the contest between Pakistan’s spinners and New Zealand’s left-handers like Chapman and Bracewell.

Venue Watch – Seddon Park, Hamilton

Seddon Park generally has a good batting wicket with true bounce and quick outfields that reward stroke play. Spinners may come into the picture towards the later part of the day as the wicket deteriorates. Historically, run chases have been a preferred choice at this ground, and therefore, the toss may again be crucial.

What to Expect

With New Zealand replete with confidence and Pakistan desperate to hit back, the second ODI is going to be a thrilling contest. The Kiwis will want to wrap up the series at the earliest opportunity, while Pakistan possesses the arsenal to hit back. Hamilton will be the stage where all attention will be concentrated as the series gathers momentum.

Will Pakistan discover their rhythm and attract level of attraction, or will New Zealand keep extending their winning streak? The answers lie in the second ODI encounter.

Unmatched Joy Among Fans:

When India became the Champions Trophy 2025 winners by defeating Pakistan, the masses started posting like mad in social media, with an almost 100% record of fans showering love all over the platform. It was another significant achievement in the history of Indian cricket, and it was akin to when India succeeded in 2013. The worldwide number one trending hashtags like #ChampionsIndia #CT2025Winners were too much to handle, along with the display of floods of people‘s nostalgia.

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Player Magic That Went Crazy Online:

The Indian team has captured the imagination of the social media world. Not to be overlooked were instances of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma showing emotions with their famous tight hug, that historic white jacket, and Jadeja‘s enthusiastic victory trot, which were watched by tens of millions. The videos of them raising the trophy while fireworks were going off became an instant hit, much to the delight of the fans of the event. The sheer enjoyment the team got out of the whole situation was a manifestation of their hard work and perseverance, which ultimately won them the title.

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Champions Trophy 2025 Best Social Media Highlights:

• 157M views: Watching the Then and Now moment from 2013 to 2025 was a treat not to be missed.
• 128M views: The heartfelt chills fans experienced as they watched Kohli and his team celebrate.
• 94M views: It was all about the good old days when you got to see your heroes in action.
• 75M+ views: The moment of triumph & Father-Daughter hitting it off.

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India's Champions Trophy 2025 victory will go down in history as probably the most incredible moment in cricket history, with social media getting the lion’s share of the attention and uniting millions of fans globally.

Indian chronic bowler Mohammad Siraj reflected on his moving story of switching from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to Gujarat Titans (GT) for IPL 2025. Siraj, who served RCB for seven years, stated that sporting the GT jersey for the first time was a very touching moment for him.

Emotional Exit from RCB:

When reminiscing about the process, Siraj expressed, "I was feeling emotional when I don't wear the GT jersey first time because it was seven years with RCB." He has been a major pacer for RCB in recent years and has built strong relationships with the team and its followers. His exit from the team marks an important step in his IPL career.

Mohammad Siraj said, "I got emotional when I wore the GT jersey for the first time, because it was 7 years with RCB. But I'm not feeling new here, the environment here is amazing". pic.twitter.com/bJRJs47mkH

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 25, 2025

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Warm Welcome at Gujarat Titans:

Despite the emotions, Siraj thinks that he is at his new home with his new team. "I'm not new here; the place is good," he added. GT officials, alongside players who have all been so warm and welcoming to him, have made his transition very smooth. Supporting the pace attack of GT for IPL 2025 as Siraj’s role under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy is pivotal is anticipated.

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India will be welcoming its biggest cricket stadium, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has given approval for a world-class stadium in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. The 1.32 lakh-seat stadium will be bigger than the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and is one of the largest cricket grounds in the world.

This stadium is not only a matter of expanding seating, this stadium is also a milestone achievement for India to push forward its sport infrastructure developments. It will be within a 200-acre Sports City, which will make Amaravati a world-class cricketing and sporting hub. The initiative is expected to raise the bar for cricket in India and attract both domestic and foreign competitions.

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Key Facilities of the Amaravati Cricket Stadium

The new Amaravati stadium will be constructed to deliver a world-class experience for players and viewers, include:

• Seating Capacity: 1.32 lakh, biggest in India.
• World-Class Pitches: Specifically built for Test, ODI, & T20 cricket games.
• Advanced Floodlights: Promising day-night matches with good visibility.
• Premium Spectator Experience: VIP areas, corporate suites, and lounge seating.
• Sustainable Design: Green building features and energy-conserving systems.

A Big Boost to Indian Cricket and Sports Tourism

This biggest cricket stadium in India will not just bring international cricket matches to Andhra Pradesh but also benefit the local economy. The project is likely to:

• Generate thousands of jobs during the construction phase and post-completion.
• Accommodate top cricket tournaments, such as IPL matches, ICC tournaments, and domestic matches.
• Increase sports tourism, with cricket enthusiasts from all over the country.
• Development of Local Talent: A committed cricket academy will develop young players.

India's Vision for Sports Infrastructure Development

This massive cricket stadium's approval is a step closer to India's goal of becoming a major global sporting force. The 200-acre Sports City, will have a number of athletic facilities that will encourage the growth of sports other than cricket.

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A Historic Addition to Indian Cricket

With ICC's approval, Amaravati cricket stadium is going to become a legendary ground in Indian cricket history. Upon completion, it will offer cricket enthusiasts a world-class match-day experience and enhance Andhra Pradesh's position in the international cricketing scene

Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Rohit Sharma had a rather unfortunate outing in one of the matches of IPL 2025 when he was dismissed for a duck. This was his unfortunate 18th zero in IPL history which makes him the player with the most number of ducks in the tournament. After his dismissal, cricket fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment in a rather humorus and trolling fashion.

Anyway nice tribute to 18th IPL season 😊 pic.twitter.com/c1TVaQqHYk

— Groot (@gjdickf) March 23, 2025

MI Fans Debate Trolling Rohit Sharma’s Unwanted Record:-

Rohit Sharma’s dismissal led to fresh round of trolling and his fans certainly had a lot of reactions and memes to portray how much they enjoyed the fact that he set an IPL record that he won’t be particularly proud of. A bunch of users jokingly claimed that Rohit should place his duck collection right alongside his five IPL trophies.

 Others moved to photographically edit memes of him looking dejected with none scores next to his name.

Rohit Sharma bags his 18th duck in IPL 18! 😲

Most Ducks in IPL history:
🥇 18 - Glenn Maxwell (129 inns)
🥇 18 - Dinesh Karthik (234 inns)
🥇 18 - Rohit Sharma (253 inns)
🥈 16 - Piyush Chawla (92 inns)
🥈 16 - Sunil Narine (111 inns)

Unwanted record for the Hitman! 😬 #IPL… pic.twitter.com/SvpmcEVNgA

— BSGG India (@BsggIndia) March 23, 2025

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A tough phase for the MI captain:-

With Rohit Sharma being one of the most successful captains of the IPL, while his growing number of ducks is indeed astonishing. Amid the trolls, Sharma’s experience and past achievements bring to light the notion that while form is temporary, class is permanent. MI fans will now be hoping for a strong comeback from their troubled captain as the tournament moves forward.

Due to erroneous social media claims regarding the possible IPL match adjustment for April 6, Kolkata Police issued an observation to clear the air. In the statement, the police have confirmed that every single decision to secure and to deploy resources is always and shall forever remain centered around the safety of citizens. They asked citizens not to disseminate or believe dubious claims.

Public Safety is the Primary Concern

Since the IPL is one of the major sporting spectacles, security of large gatherings is an equally important challenge. Kolkata Police ensure that each of these events will be conducted in a safe and hassle free event. The riot police stand prepared with appropriate action in the event of increasing tensions among the various supporters.

Certain misleading posts are being circulated regarding the proposed rescheduling of the IPL match on 6th April. Kolkata Police remains firmly committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens. All deployment decisions are made keeping public safety as the top…

— Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) March 21, 2025

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Verify Information Before Sharing

Kolkata police requested for citizens to refrain from sharing alarming fake posts as they are only counterproductive. Authorities come forth to ask all people to fact check all posts from dubious claimants before widely distributing them.

Kolkata Police quite confidently ended their message concerning the welfare of citizens by saying their slogan – “With you, Always.”

Team India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has briefly taken a break and embarked on a vacation to France along with his wife Natasha and daughters Aazeen and Anaeza. This is following India's massive triumph in the Champions Trophy 2025.

With Gambhir as coach, India triumphed in the Champions Trophy after a span of 12 years. This was India's third title in the tournament, their earlier wins being in 2002 and 2013.

India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the final played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 9th March. There are no international matches scheduled for the next two months, so Gambhir will spend this time relaxing with his family before the IPL begins on 22nd March.

VACATION TIME FOR GAMBHIR...!!!

- Coach & his family left for France for Vacation. [Abhishek Tripathi] pic.twitter.com/OAFwNehceO

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 21, 2025

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India had a struggling time earlier this year in Australia, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3. There was pressure on Gambhir, but the victory in the Champions Trophy has shut the critics up.

Gambhir has also tasted success in the IPL. In 2024, under his mentorship, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won their third IPL title. Following this, he was appointed as the head coach of the Indian team. He replaced Rahul Dravid, who ended his term with India’s T20 World Cup win in 2024.

 They engaged in a friendly contest of chess onboarded upon the intellectual magnificence enclosed in both games.

Ashwin's Unique Gesture Towards Gukesh

Known for his strategic meddling in cricket, Ashwin greeted Gukesh with a Chennai Super Kings (CSK) jersey to honor his feats in the world of chess. This demonstration exemplified the mutual appreciation each celeb has for their opposing sports of mastery.

CHESS MASTER WITH SCIENTIST. 🔥

- D Gukesh meets Ravi Ashwin at the Chepauk. Ash presented the CSK jersey and also played Chess with Gukesh. ♟️ pic.twitter.com/cFAwlqn3UK

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 21, 2025

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The Clash of Strategies and Mindsets

Afterward, the two brans clad in jerseys of chess pieces played a mini game of chess, showing off Ashwin's chess skills. In the intersection of his athletics, he has constantly noted that chess sharpens his cognitive thought on the battlefield. Likewise, Gukesh, one of India’s youngsters chess masters, relished the maneuver of playing against an accomplished cricketer who had taken up the chess flag.

This encounter at the Chepauk was a meeting of blending sound mind with a sound body, exposing how champions from different hobbies appreciate each-others talent, hardwork and love for their profession.

The video, which was shot during an ad for IPL 2025, has left cricket followers in a frenzy as it has become popular across the social media platforms.

The Initial Stupid Stupid Stupid Incident

In the course of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Pant executed an unnecessary attempting to score a highly aggressive shot in the Melbourne Test, which cost him his wicket. It was Sunil Gavaskar who was doing the analysis and, when he saw Pant attempt the poor shot, he fiercely said, "Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!" while blaming him for annihilating the game. The saga got a lot of speculation with some viewers siding with Gavaskar’s assessment, while the rest were in support of Pant’s overly aggressive approach.

Rishabh Pant recreating the 'Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!' of Sunil Gavaskar. 🤣pic.twitter.com/JhrK34luWh

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 17, 2025

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Reenactment by Pant in Good Spirit

Instead of letting the comments get to him, Pant decided to take a jab at the aggression displayed by Gavaskar on set during the shoot. Fans were delighted at their favorite player’s ability to poke fun at himself in response to the now infamous commentary.

Yet again Pant's jovial behavior delighted the cricket fans as he demonstrated that whilst cricket is often viewed as a serious sport, there is, in fact, room for laughing and making jokes.

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was filled with red as the Kohli fans cheered at the top of their voices proving again why he is the epitome of the franchise.

Astonishing Applause for Kohli

The RCB unleashed the seemingly boundless energy along with choreography techniques that absolutely had the stadium showcase a vibrant celebration dedicated solely to his iconic self. The ever-engaging Virat further cemented his roots in Bengaluru by greeting them in Kannada.

More clearpic.twitter.com/HBK8SAhk9i

— V (@CricKeeda18) March 17, 2025

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Building Momentum for IPL 2025

Kohli emerged from the locker room and RCB fans burst into the crowd heaving great laughter with great shrilling giggles as they clapped and complained about underestimating him. As expected, the batting sensation was brilliant in practice sessions and he caught everyone’s attention with one of the out of the blue catches with jaw dropping flashes in the skyline.

With such energy and charge overwhelming supporters, everyone is crossing their fingers that RCB would finally secure their long desired trophy in IPL 2025.