The 27th match of the IPL 2025 season between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) unfolded at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision that worked brilliantly in their favor. The PBKS batting lineup delivered a commanding performance, piling on a colossal total of 245 runs within their allotted 20 overs, setting a steep target for the home side.

In reply, SRH openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma came out with aggressive intent. They launched a brutal assault on the PBKS bowlers, putting up a lightning-fast opening stand that saw them race to 76 runs within the first five overs. Their explosive start gave the Hyderabad crowd plenty to cheer for.

To cap off the powerplay, SRH brought in Kiwi speedster Lockie Ferguson to bowl the sixth over. However, Ferguson’s spell was abruptly cut short. After delivering just two balls, he appeared visibly uncomfortable, clutching his left quadriceps mid-run-up. Limping and in clear pain, he was attended to by the physio on the field. Unfortunately, the injury forced him to leave the field prematurely, and Marcus Stoinis had to step in and finish the over for SRH.

😣 LOCKIE FERGUSON WALKS OFF THE FIELD!
Clearly in discomfort, clutching his knee in pain — not a good sign for the speedster. 💔⚠️#LockieFerguson #IPL2025 #PBKSvsSRH pic.twitter.com/toOTwGPN7k

— Rio (@CricRio6) April 12, 2025

Also Read: [Watch] IPL 2025: Abhishek Sharma capitalizes on No-Ball with six on free hit in SRH vs PBKS clash

Abhishek Sharma smashes 40 century

Abhishek Sharma delivered a breathtaking performance in SRH’s massive 246-run chase, smashing 108 runs off just 44 balls with 11 fours and 7 sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 245.45. His innings were filled with flair and resilience, especially after being given a life when he was caught off a no-ball at 28. That let-off proved costly for the opposition. He celebrated every milestone with energy, punching the air in delight. At one point, he pulled out a note and flashed it toward the dugout, a clear source of inspiration for the young batter.

As the dashing left-hand batter completed his century with a graceful flick into the mid-wicket region, the emotions spilled over. He roared with joy and followed it up with a powerful fist pump. SRH captain Shreyas Iyer walked over to give him a congratulatory hug, acknowledging the significance of the knock. The SRH owners were visibly emotional in the dugout, having endured a tough phase with four consecutive losses. Abhishek’s innings seemed to uplift the entire team’s spirit. And just when the curiosity peaked about the note, the message was revealed: "THIS ONE IS FOR ORANGE ARMY!" A heartwarming dedication that resonated with fans and teammates alike.

Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has launched a scathing attack on the five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and also mounted serious accusations of potential auction-fixing charges against former BCCI president N. Srinivasan.

Lalit revealed that the moment he started unraveling his infamous fixing plot, Srinivasan had reportedly turned against him. At present, Lalit has leveled two serious allegations against Srinivasan. 

His first allegation centers around Srinivasan's alleged role in influencing the 2009 mega-auction in which he pressured the other franchises to keep away from Andrew Flintoff. And in his second allegation, Lalit exposes how Srinivasan attempted to influence the outcome of the game in his side's favor by appointing Chennai-based umpires.

Lalit Modi gifts Andrew Flintoff To N Srinivasan (CSK)

In a recent interview, Lalit highlighted how the former BCCI secretary played a key role in manipulating the auction to ensure Andrew Flintoff was picked by CSK only. At Srinivasan's request, Modi confessed that he had advised the other teams secretly not to pick Freddie Flintoff. 

"Pick out everything—auction rigging. I gave Flintoff to Srinivasan. No doubts about it; every team knew about it. Srinivasan wasn’t going to let the IPL happen. He was a thorn in our Board. Yes, we told everybody not to pick ‘Flintoff.’ Yes, that I did—because Srinivasan said he wanted it."

See also: Youngest IPL signee Vaibhav Suryavanshi lands in serious controversy

Manipulation plot to appoint Chennai umpires for home games

If that wasn't enough, Srinivasan went a step further to interfere in yet another aspect of the game. He tried to have Chennai-based umpires officiate the home games for CSK so as to ensure that the critical decisions go in his team's favor. Modi labeled this move as "indirect fixing" in his recent interview and spoke at length on how Srinivasan turned out to be a thorn in his side during the formative years of the cash-rich league.

"At first, I didn’t think much about it. But when I realized he was putting a Chennai umpire on a Chennai game, it became an issue for me. That’s called indirect fixing. When I started exposing those things, he went totally against me. When everybody started going back-to-back, he was also a member of the board. He was a big adversary of mine. I went up against him, and he did many things. Umpire fixing—he accused me of it, and I accused him right back. He would change the umpire."

CSK is one of the most successful teams in the IPL with five title under their belt. Under Dhoni's flamboyant and esteemed leardership the Chennai-based outfit soared to new heights. However, the franchise did come under fire when the world first became aware of its role in match-fixing and was subsequently banned as a result for two years in 2016 and 2017. 

In 2010, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made history by winning their first Indian Premier League (IPL) title. They defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) in a closely-fought final match held in Chennai. CSK’s captain, MS Dhoni, played a pivotal role in leading the team to victory.

Suresh Raina’s explosive batting sets the stage for CSK

CSK posted a massive total of 168/5 in their innings, thanks to Suresh Raina’s brilliant knock of 57 runs off just 35 balls. Albie Morkel also contributed with a quickfire 15 off 6 balls. MI tried to chase down the target but fell short, managing 146/9 in their innings. Suresh Raina was awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.

CSK’s double triumph

This victory not only secured CSK’s first IPL title but also earned them qualification for the 2010 Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa. Led by MS Dhoni, CSK continued their dominance in the T20 format by winning both the IPL and CLT20 titles in the same year.

After that CSK won the championship in the IPL season of 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Fans are expecting for this year also. 

See Also: IPL 2024: RCB on the verge of playing 250th IPL game tonight

The win was celebrated by CSK fans, marking the beginning of their success story in the IPL. The team’s triumph continued in subsequent seasons, establishing them as one of the most successful franchises in IPL history.